II MEF heads to Iraq
Comments 3 | Recommend 2
January 28, 2009 - 6:57 PM
JENNIFER HLAD
DAILY NEWS STAFF

Cpl. James Clark's daughter is 18 months old. When he returns from Iraq, she'll be almost 3.

"I'm a little nervous," Clark said Wednesday, as he waited to board a bus bound for a yearlong deployment to Iraq. "I'm missing my second and third anniversary."

Clark is one of more than 200 Marines and sailors who left Wednesday for Anbar province as part of II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward). Hundreds more left earlier this month.

The deployment is Capt. Cyrus Pattermann's second, but the first scheduled to last a year. His wife, Jennifer Pattermann, said the length of his absence will be especially hard on their two children.

In preparation for the deployment, Cyrus Pattermann said he tried to spend every available moment with his family.

"All the little things count," he said.

For spouses who have never been through a deployment, Jennifer Pattermann offered some advice: "It gets better," she said. "Family is the most important ... As long as you have good friends, it makes it a lot easier."

The Marines and sailors of II MEF (Fwd) will assume responsibility for Anbar province, said Maj. Gen. Richard Tryon, commanding general of 2nd Marine Division and II MEF (Fwd).

The mission is "broad and varied," he said, but the unit will "maintain the security that's been established in Al Anbar province," working with Iraqi security forces, the Iraqi army and other groups.

Provincial elections are scheduled for Jan. 31, Tryon said, so the unit will help seat a new provincial council, as well as mentor and "help develop the democratic process."

Pattermann said now is "a very important time" in Iraq. While the fight may be heating up in Afghanistan, "they're both important missions. We have to finish up in Iraq," he said.

Lance Cpl. George Fonseca said he was just ready to go.

His wife and 5-month-old son, who live in San Antonio, weren't able to make it to Camp Lejeune to see him off on Wednesday.

Besides his family, he said he will miss the Mexican food in San Antonio and Flaming Hot Funyuns, although the latter can be sent in care packages.

Still, he said he is excited about the experience - and the extra money. But the best thing about deployment?

"Coming back," Fonseca said.



Contact interactive content editor and military reporter Jennifer Hlad at jhlad@freedomenc.com or 910-219-8467.

Ellie