Photo By Staff Sgt. Mackenzie Gibson | Sgt. Joseph Guidry lovingly kisses his children after returning to Marine Corps Air...... read more read more
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After a seven month long deployment with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, Marines with Marine Attack Squadron 223 reunited with their family and friends at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, April 29.
VMA-223 is one of four AV-8B Harrier squadrons assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 14, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing. The squadron’s mission is to provide offensive air support, armed reconnaissance and air-defense for Marine expeditionary forces throughout the world.
During the deployment, the squadron’s mission supported combat operations for Operation Inherent Resolve. The squadron deployed with various other units, which added to the MEU’s capabilities. The MEU’s assets include MV-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft, CH-53E Super Stallion heavy lift helicopters, AH-1W Super Cobra helicopter gunships and UH-1N Huey utility helicopters.
“With the way the MEU was designed, we got an opportunity to do it all,” said Maj. Jason Egan, the officer in charge for VMA-223’s MEU detachment. The unit got opportunities to work jointly with host nations and the U.S. Air Force.
For Sgt. Joseph Guidry, a quality assurance representative for VMA-223, coming home after the deployment meant embracing his three young children for the first time in what felt like forever.
“We communicated mostly through email, and sometimes through social media,” said Guidry. “When we were in port, I was able to video chat with them via social media.”
According to Guidry, even though his family was able to communicate with one another, the most difficult part of the deployment was missing all of the things he and his children love doing.
“I missed my daughter’s soccer games, my son’s baseball games, and all of their birthdays,” said Guidry. “The first thing I want to do is go home, unpack, and eat with my family.”
The Guidry’s children were especially happy that their father came home.
“I got to talk to my dad while he was gone,” said the Guidry’s 4-year-old son, Curtis. “But now he’s back and I can see him all the time.”
According to Egan, now that the Marines have returned, it’s time to recover and start training for the next assignment.
“We’ll take leave, regroup, and get right back into the training phase,” said Egan. “The Marines went out there, did what they had to do to complete the mission, and deserve to be home.”
| Date Taken: | 04.29.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 05.10.2016 13:00 |
| Story ID: | 197630 |
| Location: | MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, NC, US |
| Web Views: | 472 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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