Subscribe
YUMA, Ariz. - The soft light of the squadron hangar covered a mass of excited military spouses. The hangar doors opened, and in the ensuing tumult, approximately 200 Marines and sailors with Marine Attack Squadron 513 and Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 13 were smothered with hugs and cheers, Nov. 16.
For the past six months, the Yuma Marines supported NATO and International Security Assistance Force operations in Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan.
“I was all emotional just seeing the spouses get excited,” said Betty Pancake, the squadron’s family readiness officer.
“It was frigging amazing,” said Sgt. Jesse Rivera, a Marine Attack Squadron 513 airframes mechanic and a native of Irvington, N.J., of seeing his children for the first time in six months. “I was in a state of awe of how grown they got over six months and how fast they grow up.”
The sight of hundreds of smiling faces was a far cry from the usual sights the Marines saw in Afghanistan; local nationals, a multitude of foreign militaries and the mountains from which came the rocket attacks that occasionally hit inside base.
Kandahar Airfield, called KAF by its inhabitants, presented the Marines sweltering heat, traffic congestion and a constant work flow that determined the safety of the Marines on the ground.
The last time the squadron deployed to Afghanistan was nearly 10 years ago, the region a hotbed of violence and instability. A decade later, the squadron once again delivered close-air support to further the mission of infantrymen responsible for the country’s stability.
As well as close-air support, the AV-8B Harrier pilots proved their versatility by using the Lightening pod targeting system to scout unknown routes for infantrymen. On the maintainer and support side, Marines helped military police with compound search and seizures and incoming vehicles entering base.
For many Marines, this deployment marks the first time they’ve been away from home on a combat tour, with many Marines extending their enlistment to go on deployment.
“The extra time was well worth it,” said Cpl. Timothy Johnson, a Marine Attack Squadron 513 ordnance technician and a native of Huntsville, Texas, who extended his enlistment to deploy. “There are Marines alive right now thanks to our efforts.”
A noteworthy squadron achievement was their 100 percent success rate with dropping bombs, the first squadron to fall no duds in two and a half years.
“It was just great,” said Cpl. Reid Dawson, a Marine Attack Squadron 513 ordnance technician and a native of Tulsa, Okla., who also extended his enlistment. “We were out there in OEF (Operation Enduring Freedom) and supporting Marines on the ground.”
With all Marines accounted for, the squadron is set on providing training for its incoming Marines and to continue the tradition of providing needed air support. In the meantime, the holidays are coming up, and the nightmares can rest easy knowing other Marines can celebrate with their families thanks to them.
| Date Taken: | 11.30.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 12.19.2011 18:03 |
| Story ID: | 81579 |
| Location: | YUMA, ARIZONA, US |
| Web Views: | 54 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, The nightmare is over: VMA-513 comes home, by Cpl Sean Dennison, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
