I Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group returns from deployment

Photo By Cpl. Jennifer Calaway | Col. Lori Reynolds, commanding officer of I Marine Headquarters Group, I Marine Expeditionary Force, meets with her family after returning from a year-long deployment to Afghanistan, March 10.  

CAMP PENDLETON, CA, UNITED STATES

03.11.2011

Story by Cpl. Jennifer Calaway  

I Marine Expeditionary Force

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – The last group of Marines and sailors with I Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group returned to Camp Pendleton after a year-long deployment to Afghanistan March 10.

The last group of Marines and sailors with I Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group returned to Camp Pendleton after a year-long deployment to Afghanistan, March 10.

More than one hundred family, friends and volunteers anxiously awaited their loved ones return.

“I am extremely proud,” said Roberta Aenly, mother of Col. Lori Reynolds, commanding officer of I MHG. “I prayed a lot. It’s kind of hard to believe what they did over there.”

While deployed, I MHG provided administrative, training, and logistical support to the I Marine Expeditionary Force (FWD) command element.

Under Reynolds’ command, I MHG Marines took a base that initially fed, housed and equipped more than 10,000 Marines, and built it up to handle the troop surge of an additional 10,000 Marines and sailors into Afghanistan. Reynolds is also credited for being the first female Marine to command battlespace.

“As the commanding officer for I MHG, she had five battalions and a Bahraini company that worked for her,” said Lt. Col. Julie Nethercot, the commanding officer of 9th Communications Battalion.

For the homecoming, the Southern California Patriot Guard motorcycle riders accompanied the arriving buses, which added to the festive atmosphere.

Joseph Lynch, a Vietnam veteran boasting military service dating back to 1948, was impressed at how the Marines were welcomed home.

“This is amazing,” said Lynch, father of Master Sgt. Mark Lynch, the I MHG armory chief. “Nobody welcomed us back, but this is a real party!”

The I MHG family readiness office organized the welcome party for the nearly 250 Marines and sailors.

“It’s nice to know that as a family member, we are part of this brotherhood that the Marine Corps has,” Aenly said.

• Date Taken: 03.11.2011
• Date Posted: 03.11.2011 19:29
• Story ID: 66896
• Location: CAMP PENDLETON, CA, US