thedrifter
09-08-07, 07:41 AM
Fresh clothes and 'real food'
JENNIFER HLAD
September 8, 2007 - 1:47AM
DAILY NEWS STAFF
After about seven months in Fallujah, Iraq, Staff Sgt. Derek Johnson was looking forward to seeing his family again. But he was also looking forward to a few other things: a change of clothes and "real food."
Johnson is one of roughly 300 Marines with 2nd Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment who returned home to Camp Lejeune on Friday.
When Sgt. Demarius Jackson told his wife, Gail Jackson, that he was going to deploy, she said it came as a bit of a surprise. Jackson plays the saxophone in the 2nd Marine Division Band.
"Him going was kind of a shock to my system, but ... him coming back has been kind of the same shock," Gail said, as she held her rambunctious 15-month-old son, Jason.
"When (Sgt. Jackson) left, (Jason) was barely walking, pulling up on tables. Now he is running," Gail Jackson said. "He's quite a little man now."
Betsy Munn, mother of Cpl. Adam Munn, was working to stay strong and tear-free Friday before the buses arrived.
She didn't cry when he left - at least not in front of him - and she didn't plan to cry when he came back, either, she said.
Though the family lives in New York and doesn't see Munn every day, having him in North Carolina is a lot different than having him in Iraq, Betsy Munn said.
"At least you can pick up the phone and call," when he is in the United States, she said. "Not knowing, not hearing for two or three weeks at a time" is very difficult, she said.
For Cpl. Eric Clementelli - a drummer in the 2nd Marine Division Band - the most difficult time of the deployment was the last few hours.
"The bus drive was the worst part, the absolute worst part," he said, partly because of the anticipation.
But being back with his family and girlfriend Jackie Lynch had him smiling.
"There's nothing better than coming home. It's the greatest feeling in the world," Clementelli said.
Not every Marine came home. The unit had two combat deaths during their seven-month tour, a spokesman said.
During the deployment, the Marines served as the security force at Camp Fallujah, manning towers, entry control points and other areas around the base.
But they did see some progress, said Gunnery Sgt. Robert Russell.
When 2/10 first arrived, "We were basically doing things by ourselves," he said. By the time they left, they were doing joint operations with Iraqi forces and rebuilding infrastructure, Russell said.
Contact military reporter Jennifer Hlad at jhlad@freedomenc.com or 353-1171, ext. 8449. Visit www.jdnews.com to comment on this report.
2/10 Comes Home Video
www.jdnews.com/video/home_51497___video.html/marines_2nd.html
Ellie
JENNIFER HLAD
September 8, 2007 - 1:47AM
DAILY NEWS STAFF
After about seven months in Fallujah, Iraq, Staff Sgt. Derek Johnson was looking forward to seeing his family again. But he was also looking forward to a few other things: a change of clothes and "real food."
Johnson is one of roughly 300 Marines with 2nd Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment who returned home to Camp Lejeune on Friday.
When Sgt. Demarius Jackson told his wife, Gail Jackson, that he was going to deploy, she said it came as a bit of a surprise. Jackson plays the saxophone in the 2nd Marine Division Band.
"Him going was kind of a shock to my system, but ... him coming back has been kind of the same shock," Gail said, as she held her rambunctious 15-month-old son, Jason.
"When (Sgt. Jackson) left, (Jason) was barely walking, pulling up on tables. Now he is running," Gail Jackson said. "He's quite a little man now."
Betsy Munn, mother of Cpl. Adam Munn, was working to stay strong and tear-free Friday before the buses arrived.
She didn't cry when he left - at least not in front of him - and she didn't plan to cry when he came back, either, she said.
Though the family lives in New York and doesn't see Munn every day, having him in North Carolina is a lot different than having him in Iraq, Betsy Munn said.
"At least you can pick up the phone and call," when he is in the United States, she said. "Not knowing, not hearing for two or three weeks at a time" is very difficult, she said.
For Cpl. Eric Clementelli - a drummer in the 2nd Marine Division Band - the most difficult time of the deployment was the last few hours.
"The bus drive was the worst part, the absolute worst part," he said, partly because of the anticipation.
But being back with his family and girlfriend Jackie Lynch had him smiling.
"There's nothing better than coming home. It's the greatest feeling in the world," Clementelli said.
Not every Marine came home. The unit had two combat deaths during their seven-month tour, a spokesman said.
During the deployment, the Marines served as the security force at Camp Fallujah, manning towers, entry control points and other areas around the base.
But they did see some progress, said Gunnery Sgt. Robert Russell.
When 2/10 first arrived, "We were basically doing things by ourselves," he said. By the time they left, they were doing joint operations with Iraqi forces and rebuilding infrastructure, Russell said.
Contact military reporter Jennifer Hlad at jhlad@freedomenc.com or 353-1171, ext. 8449. Visit www.jdnews.com to comment on this report.
2/10 Comes Home Video
www.jdnews.com/video/home_51497___video.html/marines_2nd.html
Ellie