5th ANGLICO Marines from Okinawa completes combat deployment to Iraq

Photo By Cpl. Paul Zellner | Pvt. John Soto (center) welcomes home Cpl. Christopher Reyes (left) and Cpl. Stephen Davis (right) with a bear hug as the Marines return from a seven-month Iraq deployment. The field radio operators were happy to be reunited with their brothers.  

04.17.2009

Story by Cpl. Paul Zellner 

III Marine Expeditionary Force   

Marines and Sailors from 5th Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, III Marine Expeditionary Force, returned to Camp Hansen on April 19 from a seven-month deployment to Iraq.

Firepower Control Teams and eight man Supporting Arms Liaison Teams and then attached to different units.

By the end of September, 5th ANGLICO was scattered throughout western and northern Iraq conducting combat operations in support of the 7th Iraqi Army Division, various military transition teams and the 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 2nd Marine Division.

The company provided general combat support and the coordination for air support and artillery to the units they were attached to. By the end of the deployment, 5th ANGLICO had conducted more than 400 vehicle patrols and participated in five major combat operations.

The returning Marines and Sailors were the last wave of 5th ANGLICO personnel to arrive here from Iraq. Other members of the unit who returned from
Iraq at the beginning of March were waiting at the unit's command post to reunite with the rest of their company.

"It was a long seven months, especially through the holidays but it feels so good to be home," said Cpl. Christopher Reyes, a field radio operator. "This was my second tour so I guess the job wasn't quite done yet."

The Marines and Sailors returning were just as excited as their family members and friends as they arrived back to the island they know as home. The homecoming was especially important to one wife and her 7-month old daughter.

"He left when our daughter Hannah was only 10 days old," said Laura Williams of her husband Capt. Eric Williams who was returning from his third deployment. "It's good to have him home and I know he wants to catch up with his little girl."

The returnees will now attend five days of warrior transition training. Many plan leave after completion of the training.

• Date Taken: 04.17.2009
• Date Posted: 04.19.2009 19:59
• Story ID: 32579