MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII, KANEOHE BAY, Hawaii -- As Operation Iraqi Freedom II continues on its path in the Persian Gulf, 95 Marines and Sailors from 3rd Radio Battalion returned home to MCB Hawaii, Sept. 23, after completing a seven-month deployment to Iraq.
These Marines and Sailors are the last large group from 3rd Radio Battalion to return to MCB Hawaii after being replaced by 2nd Radio Battalion, Camp Lejeune, N.C.
According to 1st Lt. Joseph O’Connor, assistant operations officer, 3rd Radio Battalion, the final rear party will return in a few weeks, after verifying that all gear will return safely.
“These Marines and Sailors deployed in support of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, and provided special communications for the general, his staff, and subordinate commands,” said O’Connor. “We are all extremely proud of our men and women. We know how fortunate we are that we brought back every Marine and Sailor we deployed safely, and how much we owe to our leadership for that accomplishment.”
The unit began preparing for their return more than two weeks ago. There were various stages to complete before they were able to gratefully step foot back onto their native soil.
According to O’Connor, their final stage was completing the lengthy flight back to the states on a civilian-contracted flight, but they were comfortable all the way home.
“The entire command offers its heartfelt condolences to those units who were not so fortunate [to bring all their men home safe],” said O’Connor.
More than 100 family members and friends waited at the common area by 3rd Radio Battalion headquarters that evening, so that they could be among the first to welcome home the brave men and women.
Everyone in the crowd had their own story to tell, from newlyweds who missed their first of year of marriage, to newborns who waited with their mothers to see their father for the first time. Stories like these have become common among the military community, but it does not change the wrenching emotion each family feels.
“I’m very nervous and excited about seeing him again, we are still like newly weds. We have been married two years, but we have only seen each other about one,” said Cpl. Tiffany Rose, a radio repairman for Maintenance Co., Combat Service Support Group 3. “Even though I will cry the minute I see him, I am very proud of him. He does what a majority of Americans don’t get to do.”
The Key Volunteers Network also put in a lot of time and effort to welcome home the single Marines and Sailors. The spouses and key volunteers baked cookies for them, and made their beds in the barracks, so they could just relax when they came home. Marine Corps Community Services provided welcome home bags for all the returning troops, which included coupons for free items aboard the base.
For some in the unit, this deployment was the second time around for them in the Persian Gulf, and although there will be down time, the future may hold more operations like this.
“The way that 3rd Radio Battalion operates, we always have Marines spread out all over the globe supporting differences missions. So, for some of our men and women it could be a matter of months before they are called again, for others it could be more than a year,” said Capt. Debra Gomez, the adjutant for 3rd Radio Battalion. “It really depends on the needs of the Marine Corps and outcome of future operations.”