CLB-7, 3rd LAR come home to warm welcome

Photo By Cpl. Monica Erickson | Capt. Justin Sharpe, the executive officer for Comanche Company, 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, hugs his wife and looks in amazement on how big his 8-month-old son has grown throughout the battalion's deployment to Iraq during their homecoming at Victory Field, Sept. 8.  

TWENTYNINE PALMS, CA, UNITED STATES

09.15.2009

Story by Cpl. Monica Erickson 

Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. — It was a chilly, damp morning Sunday — a stark contrast to the climate nearly 100 Combat Logistics Battalion 7 Marines and sailors had grown accustomed to during their eight-month deployment under the sweltering sun of Iraq. Nearly 80 Marines and sailors from 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion returned home later in the week to temperatures more accustomed of the Iraqi desert.

CLB-7 returned to the Combat Center's Victory Field Sunday morning amid a sea of welcome-home banners, balloons and smiling faces. Tuesday afternoon found a similar crowd flooding the field as 3rd LAR Marines and Sailors were welcomed home to the waiting arms of friends and families.

CLB-7 deployed in February with a mission to provide security to the area surrounding Camp Korean Village in Western Iraq until they turned the area over to the Army in early July, said 1st Sgt. Michael Miller, the senior enlisted Marine with CLB-7.

Also during their deployment, CLB-7 Marines provided logistical support for other deployed units, and supplied fuel, food and water to Camp Korea, said Gunnery Sgt. Jeffrey Hardy, the family readiness officer for CLB-7.

The battalion then shifted its operations to Al Asad where they continued to provide security until beginning their trip home.

"It feels great to be home," said 1st Lt. Vonn Deguzman, the third platoon commander for Support Company with CLB-7. "It doesn't even smell like Lake Bandini this morning."

While deployed, the Marines and sailors of 3rd LAR conducted security patrols throughout the Al Asad region in Iraq while ensuring all of the light armored reconnaissance gear and equipment was returned state-side.

"We are the last LAR battalion to be deployed to Iraq," said 1st Sgt. Raymond Clark, the staff non-commissioned officer in charge of 3rd LAR's remain behind element. "It is important that as the war in Iraq winds down the Iraqi people see the Marines in a non-attacking supportive role to their nation."

As the family members and friends waited for their loved ones, they made a sign which will be present at every 3rd LAR homecoming. On the sign, all the children of Wolfpack Marines will have their hand traced and write their name, while above the hand prints is written, "Welcome home Wolfpack, from the Wolfpups."

Also waiting amongst all the excitement were 21 newborn babies waiting to meet their fathers for the first time.

During the deployment, family members were preparing for their homecoming with the help of Jillian King, the family readiness officer for 3rd LAR.

"We started preparing for their homecoming before they even deployed," said the Rapid City, S.D., native. "We held monthly meetings, support groups, legal briefs, and informational briefs that covered everything a wife may need to know. We set up a mass communication tool where I contacted the families once a month throughout the deployment—and as we started getting dates for their arrival, I started contacting them weekly."

King said the families were more prepared for this deployment than any other previous one due to the hard work of the Family Readiness Office volunteers.

When the Wolfpack Marines and Sailors stepped off the buses, more than 100 family members flooded toward them, crying with happiness as they hugged their loved ones and took them home.

The first thing Lance Cpl. Emmanuel Flatto did when he got off the bus was grab his pregnant wife and two-year-old daughter in a bear-hug. He said he couldn't wait to get home and eat a home-made meal and is "glad to be home with the family."

(Pfc. Michael T. Gams contributed to this story.)

• Date Taken: 09.15.2009
• Date Posted: 09.15.2009 12:05
• Story ID: 38793
• Location: TWENTYNINE PALMS, CA, US