thedrifter
08-09-09, 06:38 AM
'They finally come home'
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Nearly 200 Marines return to Cherry Point
August 08, 2009 8:59 PM
Charlie Hall
Sun Journal Staff
CHERRY POINT — Technology keeps deployed Marines and their families closer than ever during months of overseas duty.
But Web cams and Internet exchanges are merely acceptable and appreciated substitutes for the real thing.
“There is nothing like him in person,” laughed Jennifer King about her Marine boyfriend Sgt. Jonathan Dolan, one of nearly 200 Marines who arrived here Saturday evening to a loud and joyous reception by families and friends.
The Marines were from units that included Marine Wing Support Group 27, Marine Aircraft Group 14, Marine Air Control Group 28, and Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 252.
When the first two buses rolled onto the Flightline outside the VMGR-252 hanger, the cheering began; some people held up colorful red, white and blue signs with their Marine’s name and others held up babies. As the bus doors opened and the Marines walked slowly toward the crowd, several women spotted their Marine, burst into tears and ran to them.
“I’m so excited. This is so surreal,” King said while waiting with Dolan’s sisters — Jessica Mitchell, Brenna Dolan and family — who drove from Canton, Ohio, for his homecoming.
King echoed the emotions of many wives and significant others about their Marines being gone, this time for six and a half months in Iraq.
“It’s nothing but worry. If you don’t get a phone call, then, of course, you worry and he’s stressed out and you want to make it better for him and you can’t,” she said. “But, when they finally come home, you’re so excited.”
The Internet exchanges have been good, she said, although a seven-hour time difference makes for logistical adjustments — midnight here, 7 a.m. in Iraq.
“But, I actually got to see him and know he was OK,” she added. “Even the phone calls were great, being able to talk and let them know you care.”
Dolan’s 5-year-old daughter Alexis was waiting, too.
She had a simple answer to the question about seeing her daddy.
“It’ll be super duper great.”
Once Sgt. Dolan was reunited with his family and Alexis, he was told what the youngster said.
“So, super duper great, eh kiddo,” he laughed as she hugged his neck. “Yes, I’d say the same thing.”
A lot has changed for Capt. Nathan Jacob and his wife Sarah since a deployment in 1999.
For one, there were no children then. Now there are five, including 8-month-old Sophia, who has grown a lot since he left in March. But with the Web cams, he has shared the growing family from a distance.
“It’s been wonderful for the kids to see him and talk to him,” Sarah said. The family lives in New Bern, but a decade ago, he was an enlisted man stationed out of Camp Lejeune, deployed on a ship.
The Internet was not an option then.
“He’d have to stand in line to get calling cards,” she recalled. “There was one (call) every couple of weeks. It was bad. And, we’d always be talking over each other because there was a delay.”
This time, he has kept up with the family, but was surprised to find the little ones all decked out in camouflage uniforms.
“I made them,” Sarah beamed.
The family, originally from Ohio, plans to really celebrate the homecoming in October with a trip normally associated with Super Bowl MVPs.
“We’re going to Disney World,” she said.
Charlie Hall can be reached at (252) 635-5667 or chall@freedomenc.com
Ellie
Comments 3 | Recommend 0
Nearly 200 Marines return to Cherry Point
August 08, 2009 8:59 PM
Charlie Hall
Sun Journal Staff
CHERRY POINT — Technology keeps deployed Marines and their families closer than ever during months of overseas duty.
But Web cams and Internet exchanges are merely acceptable and appreciated substitutes for the real thing.
“There is nothing like him in person,” laughed Jennifer King about her Marine boyfriend Sgt. Jonathan Dolan, one of nearly 200 Marines who arrived here Saturday evening to a loud and joyous reception by families and friends.
The Marines were from units that included Marine Wing Support Group 27, Marine Aircraft Group 14, Marine Air Control Group 28, and Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 252.
When the first two buses rolled onto the Flightline outside the VMGR-252 hanger, the cheering began; some people held up colorful red, white and blue signs with their Marine’s name and others held up babies. As the bus doors opened and the Marines walked slowly toward the crowd, several women spotted their Marine, burst into tears and ran to them.
“I’m so excited. This is so surreal,” King said while waiting with Dolan’s sisters — Jessica Mitchell, Brenna Dolan and family — who drove from Canton, Ohio, for his homecoming.
King echoed the emotions of many wives and significant others about their Marines being gone, this time for six and a half months in Iraq.
“It’s nothing but worry. If you don’t get a phone call, then, of course, you worry and he’s stressed out and you want to make it better for him and you can’t,” she said. “But, when they finally come home, you’re so excited.”
The Internet exchanges have been good, she said, although a seven-hour time difference makes for logistical adjustments — midnight here, 7 a.m. in Iraq.
“But, I actually got to see him and know he was OK,” she added. “Even the phone calls were great, being able to talk and let them know you care.”
Dolan’s 5-year-old daughter Alexis was waiting, too.
She had a simple answer to the question about seeing her daddy.
“It’ll be super duper great.”
Once Sgt. Dolan was reunited with his family and Alexis, he was told what the youngster said.
“So, super duper great, eh kiddo,” he laughed as she hugged his neck. “Yes, I’d say the same thing.”
A lot has changed for Capt. Nathan Jacob and his wife Sarah since a deployment in 1999.
For one, there were no children then. Now there are five, including 8-month-old Sophia, who has grown a lot since he left in March. But with the Web cams, he has shared the growing family from a distance.
“It’s been wonderful for the kids to see him and talk to him,” Sarah said. The family lives in New Bern, but a decade ago, he was an enlisted man stationed out of Camp Lejeune, deployed on a ship.
The Internet was not an option then.
“He’d have to stand in line to get calling cards,” she recalled. “There was one (call) every couple of weeks. It was bad. And, we’d always be talking over each other because there was a delay.”
This time, he has kept up with the family, but was surprised to find the little ones all decked out in camouflage uniforms.
“I made them,” Sarah beamed.
The family, originally from Ohio, plans to really celebrate the homecoming in October with a trip normally associated with Super Bowl MVPs.
“We’re going to Disney World,” she said.
Charlie Hall can be reached at (252) 635-5667 or chall@freedomenc.com
Ellie