A steady stream of farewells

JENNIFER HLAD
August 28, 2007 - 12:01AM
DAILY NEWS STAFF

Sea bags sit stacked up in the grass as Marines and sailors hold tight to family members. Others talk casually and glance at their watches, ready to go.

When the buses pull up, the organized chaos ensues, as commanders herd their Marines into place and spouses scramble for one last kiss.

It's an increasingly familiar scene at Camp Lejeune - the mass deployment.

Monday, about 260 more Marines and sailors left Camp Lejeune for Iraq, heading to Al Anbar province to provide support wherever they can.

The Marines and sailors of 2nd Supply Battalion are part of the 2nd Marine Logistics Group, which has seen a steady stream of deployments in the past weeks and will see even more in the weeks ahead.

Approximately half the 2nd MLG is currently deployed, part of the roughly 18,000 service members deployed from the II Marine Expeditionary Force bases and stations, which stretch from Cherry Point to Beaufort, S.C., according to a II MEF spokesman.

This is the first deployment for Petty Officer 3rd Class Matthew Haydon and Petty Officer 3rd Class Joan Santamaria, sailors with the 2nd Supply Battalion's surgical company. Monday, both said they were ready.

While at home, Haydon said, the sailors train year-round for the deployment.

Many of the sailors train at hospitals in Los Angeles, Santamaria said, to prepare for emergency traumas in Iraq.

Getting ready to leave was simply a matter of getting in the proper mindset, said Haydon, who leaves a wife at home.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Tara McKnabb has deployed before - including for Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm when she was in the Army - but will be going for the first time in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

As she stood in a parking lot on a humid, overcast day, McKnabb said she is a little nervous about going, mainly because of "fear of the unknown."

Still, she said, every other lab technician from the hospital she works in in Corpus Christi, Texas, has deployed.

"It was my time," McKnabb said.

The sailors are part of a surgical company with a mission to "save the life and limb of Marines in the forces," said Navy Lt. Raymond Delgado, company commander.

The company has a blood bank, surgical capabilities, a ward to hold and treat patients and a mobile unit, he said.

Sometimes, just the fact the company is there is reassuring to the troops in the fight, said Navy Capt. Ralph Jones, chief of professional services.

"We're there to support the combat arms and make sure we bring the troops back alive," he said.

1st Lt. Matt Gayler has deployed once before, but this will be his first deployment as an officer, he said Monday.

This time, he leaves behind his wife and 3-month-old son.

"It's a little tough ... but she's strong," he said. "We have a really strong church community. God will provide."

Chantal Jorgensen is one of many spouses who bid her husband goodbye Monday for his approximately six-month deployment. Their dog, Oreo, also came to bid farewell - outfitted in a special T-shirt for the occasion.

Chantal and Cpl. Kai Jorgensen prepared for his absence by spending as much time as possible together, Chantal Jorgensen said. Since Cpl. Jorgensen will miss the couple's first wedding anniversary, they celebrated the anniversary of the day he proposed instead.

Though it is difficult to be apart, Chantal Jorgensen said, knowing that he is doing good helps.

"I'm really proud of what he does over there," she said.

The fact that he will be making a difference, she said, "makes it a little easier."


Contact Jennifer Hlad at jhlad@freedomenc.com or 353-1171, ext. 8449. To comment on this story, visit www.jdnews.com.

Ellie