Hammerhead detachment returns from Afghanistan

Photo By Sgt. Samuel A. Nasso | Lance Cpl. Marlin A. Grant hugs his daughter Arianna as soon as he gets off the bus upon returning from a seven-month deployment from Afghanistan Feb. 9. Grant was among more than 100 Marines with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 366 to return.  

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, NC, UNITED STATES

02.18.2011

Story by Cpl. Samuel A. Nasso 

II Marine Expeditionary Force   

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. - Marines, friends and families waited for more than a hundred Marines with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 366 to return from a seven-month deployment from Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, Feb. 9.

The anticipation grew as a USO trailer with two televisions showed a video feed of the homecoming Marines departing the plane at Cherry Point, allowing the families to see their loved ones earlier than expected.

The Hammerhead detachment left in July 2010 to join HMH-361 at Camp Leatherneck in support of I Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward).

For many of the young Marines, it was a firsthand look at what it is like being in a combat zone during a deployment.

“It was a really good experience to actually do what we train for,” said Cpl. Shaun D. Berhow, a CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter crew chief with HMH-366. “To move around troops and supplies and provide support from the sky felt great.”

The detachment consisted of 134 Marines and sailors, which included an advanced party of Marines that arrived last month.
The Hammerhead detachment, which deployed in support of HMH-361 (Reinforced), lifted more than 8 million pounds of cargo and transported more than 35,000 passengers. Additionally, during two separate aircraft recovery missions they lifted damaged CH-47 Chinook helicopters.

“I am extremely pleased to have my detachment home,” said Lt. Col. Halstead Meadows III, the commanding officer of HMH-366. “They performed extremely well while deployed and were the driving force in providing the much needed heavy lift in support of I MEF (Fwd).

According to Meadows, the Hammerhead family has a strong support system that is made up of spouses, parents and significant others. This support system contributed immeasurably to the success of their mission.

• Date Taken: 02.18.2011
• Date Posted: 02.18.2011 10:36
• Story ID: 65679
• Location: MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, NC, US