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Oklahoma Naval Reservists Return Home from Overseas Operations

Navy Newsstand

Story Number: NNS030519-16

Release Date: 5/19/2003 7:02:00 PM

By Chief Journalist Susan Hammond, Navy Information Bureau Det. 411 Oklahoma City

OKLAHOMA CITY (NNS) -- The last Reservists of Naval Cargo Handling Battalion (NCHB) 6 Air Cargo Company have returned home following deployment in support of U.S. military operations overseas.

Twenty-nine unit members returned in three groups since mid-March after relief personnel arrived on station. These Reservists were initially mobilized in August 2002.

They participated in delivering the cargo essential for combat operations and ensuring fighting forces received personal packages from the homefront.

"It was a good feeling knowing I was helping the families get mail to their loved ones," said Storekeeper 1st Class Sheri Key. She worked many long hours, helping military personnel get their mail. "I know it was much appreciated by the servicemembers."

The separation was difficult, but not unexpected for Key. Her whole family is military. Husband Earl is a retired chief electronic's technician, and daughters Elizabeth and Amanda both serve on active duty. "Deployments and separations are a way of life, but it's always good to come home," Key said.

Others welcomed the deployment as an experience of a lifetime.

"I met a lot of good people from different cultures - lots of unique experiences and different kinds of foods," said Builder 1st Class Chris Bohannan.

Family members left behind were kept informed by the unit's ombudsman, Janet Froehlich, whose husband Dan is a senior chief steelworker. She took responsibility for providing resources to families that encountered difficulties while their loved ones were absent. Froehlich guided some family members toward legal services and child care resources.

"We really had very few problems," Froehlich said. As Reservists returned home, she faithfully showed up for all the return flights over the last two months. However, her husband was among the last to return home.

"It was kind of difficult to watch all the joyous homecomings while my husband was still out there," she said.

NCHBs consist of surface cargo, air cargo and maintenance companies. Their mission is to plan and conduct expeditionary air and surface cargo mobilization readiness training and contributory support operations for fleet and joint commands cargo operations. Reservists of NCHB-6 drill at Naval Reserve Center Oklahoma City.

Upon arrival at various locations, members of NCHB-6 perform various tasks to support the fleet, as well as other services in air and surface cargo, and mail handling.