2nd MAW returns from Afghanistan

Photo By Cpl. Scott L. Tomaszycki | Lt. Gen. John M. Paxton Jr., and Maj. Gen. Jon M. Davis greet Marines off the plane delivering the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) to MCAS Cherry Point after their combat deployment to Afghanistan March 3. The wing deployed Feb. 9, 2011 and conducted air support missions for the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward) in southern Afghanistan.  

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, NC, UNITED STATES

03.03.2012

Story by Lance Cpl. Scott L. Tomaszycki 

II Marine Expeditionary Force   

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. — After a yearlong combat deployment to southern Afghanistan, more than 80 Marines with 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) returned to Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, March 3.

Since deploying to Afghanistan, Feb. 9, 2011, the wing was responsible for approximately 70,000 combat sorties in 60,000 flight hours, in support of 4,000 medical evacuations and an average of 22 special operations per month, said Maj. Gen. Glenn M. Walters, commanding general of 2nd MAW (Fwd).

Airstrikes played a critical role in Afghanistan, read a congratulatory message from Lt. Gen Thomas D. Waldhauser, commander of U.S. Marine Corps Force Central Command, to Walters and his Marines.
The message went on to say the wing was critical in destroying insurgent lines of communication and disrupting the enemy’s freedom of movement in the battle space.

“It was long and tedious, working 12 to 16 hour days every day, sometimes longer,” said Cpl. Colin J. Wine, a system administrator for Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron 2. “You’re working every single day all year, that’s your life. You gain valuable experience in your job field. It’s just a good experience to go forward and see what the Marines actually do.”

Many Marines are assigned billets that do not fall inside their original job field, added Wine. The cross training was an added benefit of the deployment.

The affect of the separation brought on by a more than year long deployment was evident when the Marines were finally able to reunite with their families.

“Returning was almost surreal, because we waited so long to get back and it didn’t seem real until I actually saw them,” said Sgt. Amanda McGhee, who returned to her family who came down from Maryland.

It was great to see my family here and everyone that was supporting us, said McGhee, a helicopter landing zone manager for MWHS-2.

• Date Taken: 03.03.2012
• Date Posted: 03.09.2012 13:35
• Story ID: 85008
• Location: MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, NC, US
• Hometown: HAGERSTOWN, MD, US
• Hometown: HOUSTON, TX, US
• Hometown: SALEM, MA, US