thedrifter
08-05-03, 05:11 AM
Home: Ribbons, Cheers And Tears For 300 Returning Marines
By Nedra Rhone
STAFF WRITER
August 4, 2003
For five months they had organized phone chains, e-mail lists, and one of them even coordinated a 3,000-bag care package delivery to Iraq. Yesterday, finally, they prepared for a homecoming.
They started at 6 a.m. For every tree on a quarter-mile stretch of Stewart Avenue in Garden City, the women hung yellow ribbons and red, white and blue banners.
There were handmade signs, posters and photo montages hanging on the fences surrounding the Sgt. John F. Mackie Center, headquarters for the 300 Marines of the 2nd Battalion 25th Regiment reservists.
When the 10 buses escorted by Nassau County police officers came into view around noon, the crowd of hundreds reached a feverish excitement. They called out names, chanted "U.S.A," hugged one another and cried as the Marines, confined to the buses for the moment, banged their fists on the tinted windows in appreciation.
"I've never had so many people cheering for me in my life," said Lance Cpl. Daniel Jones, 20, of East Northport. His family, waiting in a white stretch BMW limousine, had kept in touch through e-mail and by reading an on-line column of a reporter who was with the battalion, said Pat Jones, Daniel's mother.
But the five months in Iraq was Jones' first time overseas, and the hardest thing about being away, he said, was not knowing what was happening at home. Still, while he missed weddings, birthdays and other family events, Jones learned an important lesson. "I learned not to take anything for granted," he said. "When you're in Iraq it makes you appreciate things more."
For the duration of their duty in and around Nasiriyah, the men stayed focused. There on the south bank of the Euphrates River they saw towns collapse around them, knowing that when combat ended, they would be the ones to rebuild.
And when the time came, they desalinated river water and used it to start up a power plant. They distributed $30-million worth of medical supplies to get hospitals in working order, said Capt. Ray Lopes. After a three-week closure, they reopened schools with books and supplies - 20 schools in the province of Thigar alone.
"The whole war was very, very difficult," said Capt. Jack McGonagle of Manhattan. "It's going to take a while. We are going to be there for a long time."
But while the conflict continues and some will remain on active duty, yesterday these Marines focused only on being home.
"I'm on cloud nine right now," said Gunnery Sgt. Joseph Montiel of Manorville. His wife, Ann, along with Kathy DuPont, Laurie Yuditsky and Marie Arcentales, were among the wives of soldiers who woke at dawn to begin preparing for the homecoming. Some of the soldiers found it difficult to express how good it felt to be back.
"I can't put it into words," said Gunnery Sgt. Jim DuPont. "It's been a long 5 1/2 months."
The Garden City resident kept in touch through letters and occasional phone calls. Yesterday, as he walked from the buses into the center where the soldiers spent two hours unloading weapons and receiving papers before joining their families, Kathy DuPont broke from the crowd to embrace her husband. "Being separated from my family" was the greatest challenge, DuPont said.
For the 20 relatives waiting for Sgt. William Dougherty, 31, yesterday's homecoming was bittersweet. The Bay Shore man was returning home, but his twin brother, James, who is in the Army, remains in Baghdad. "I'm half happy," said Dougherty's mother. "I'm ecstatic about one coming home and sad about not having heard from the other."
The afternoon gave Pat Cassetta of the United Veterans' Committee of Nassau County another chance to recall his homecoming as a young Marine in World War II. "The people were so grateful that we had won that war," Cassetta said. "They were so grateful to see us. We were so happy to be home."
And as the 300 Marines exited the heavy gates of the base and were sucked in by the cheering crowd, it seemed that at least in some ways, nothing had changed.
Copyright © 2003, Newsday, Inc.
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/longisland/ny-lirese043401469aug04,0,5156683.story?coll=ny-linews-headlines
Sempers,
Roger
:marine:
By Nedra Rhone
STAFF WRITER
August 4, 2003
For five months they had organized phone chains, e-mail lists, and one of them even coordinated a 3,000-bag care package delivery to Iraq. Yesterday, finally, they prepared for a homecoming.
They started at 6 a.m. For every tree on a quarter-mile stretch of Stewart Avenue in Garden City, the women hung yellow ribbons and red, white and blue banners.
There were handmade signs, posters and photo montages hanging on the fences surrounding the Sgt. John F. Mackie Center, headquarters for the 300 Marines of the 2nd Battalion 25th Regiment reservists.
When the 10 buses escorted by Nassau County police officers came into view around noon, the crowd of hundreds reached a feverish excitement. They called out names, chanted "U.S.A," hugged one another and cried as the Marines, confined to the buses for the moment, banged their fists on the tinted windows in appreciation.
"I've never had so many people cheering for me in my life," said Lance Cpl. Daniel Jones, 20, of East Northport. His family, waiting in a white stretch BMW limousine, had kept in touch through e-mail and by reading an on-line column of a reporter who was with the battalion, said Pat Jones, Daniel's mother.
But the five months in Iraq was Jones' first time overseas, and the hardest thing about being away, he said, was not knowing what was happening at home. Still, while he missed weddings, birthdays and other family events, Jones learned an important lesson. "I learned not to take anything for granted," he said. "When you're in Iraq it makes you appreciate things more."
For the duration of their duty in and around Nasiriyah, the men stayed focused. There on the south bank of the Euphrates River they saw towns collapse around them, knowing that when combat ended, they would be the ones to rebuild.
And when the time came, they desalinated river water and used it to start up a power plant. They distributed $30-million worth of medical supplies to get hospitals in working order, said Capt. Ray Lopes. After a three-week closure, they reopened schools with books and supplies - 20 schools in the province of Thigar alone.
"The whole war was very, very difficult," said Capt. Jack McGonagle of Manhattan. "It's going to take a while. We are going to be there for a long time."
But while the conflict continues and some will remain on active duty, yesterday these Marines focused only on being home.
"I'm on cloud nine right now," said Gunnery Sgt. Joseph Montiel of Manorville. His wife, Ann, along with Kathy DuPont, Laurie Yuditsky and Marie Arcentales, were among the wives of soldiers who woke at dawn to begin preparing for the homecoming. Some of the soldiers found it difficult to express how good it felt to be back.
"I can't put it into words," said Gunnery Sgt. Jim DuPont. "It's been a long 5 1/2 months."
The Garden City resident kept in touch through letters and occasional phone calls. Yesterday, as he walked from the buses into the center where the soldiers spent two hours unloading weapons and receiving papers before joining their families, Kathy DuPont broke from the crowd to embrace her husband. "Being separated from my family" was the greatest challenge, DuPont said.
For the 20 relatives waiting for Sgt. William Dougherty, 31, yesterday's homecoming was bittersweet. The Bay Shore man was returning home, but his twin brother, James, who is in the Army, remains in Baghdad. "I'm half happy," said Dougherty's mother. "I'm ecstatic about one coming home and sad about not having heard from the other."
The afternoon gave Pat Cassetta of the United Veterans' Committee of Nassau County another chance to recall his homecoming as a young Marine in World War II. "The people were so grateful that we had won that war," Cassetta said. "They were so grateful to see us. We were so happy to be home."
And as the 300 Marines exited the heavy gates of the base and were sucked in by the cheering crowd, it seemed that at least in some ways, nothing had changed.
Copyright © 2003, Newsday, Inc.
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/longisland/ny-lirese043401469aug04,0,5156683.story?coll=ny-linews-headlines
Sempers,
Roger
:marine: