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OIF vets from Hawaii return home

Marine Corps News

Release Date: 5/20/2003

Story by Cpl. Luis R. Agostini

HONOLULU(May 20, 2003) -- Thirty-nine Marines from 1st Radio Battalion received a warm welcome home at the Honolulu International Airport late Monday evening as they returned from a three-month deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Friends and family, anticipating the return of the Kaneohe Bay warriors, decorated portions of the baggage claim area with "Welcome Home" banners and American flags, patiently waiting to catch the first glimpse of their loved ones and friends.

Nicholas and Jessa Thompson, children of CWO-3 Sean Thompson, Radio Reconnaissance Platoon commander, spent the majority of their time at the airport sitting on the edge of the baggage carousel, waiting for dad to come back.

"He missed my birthday," said 10-year-old Jessa, "but we are going to have a birthday lunch when he comes back. He promised."

It was around 10:40 p.m. when the travel-weary warriors started filtering into the baggage claim area. Although some may have felt the effects of jetlag, these men projected a presence that distinguished them from the other passengers. Clad in polo shirts, khaki shorts, sandles and sporting regulation haircuts, the men personified the image of "Marines," and their greeters knew it.

The crowd greeted the heroes with resonating applause. As soon as they saw their Marines, the women and children sprinted into the arms of their OIF veterans, a few who had been waiting for this moment for more than six months.

After embracing his wife, Brooke, Lance Cpl. Steven Hunsaker, an Arabic linguist, laid eyes on his three-week-old daughter, Alyssa, for the first time.

"It's such a great feeling," said Hunsaker. "I'm looking forward to spending time with my family."

During their three-month deployment, the Kaneohe Bay-based Marines injected some local flavor into the Southwest Asia. The unit's innovative thinking and local ties prompted 1st Radio Bn. to transform a portion of Camp Commando, Kuwait, to Camp Hale Koa, the Hawaiian phrase for "house of warriors."

1st Radio Battalion's mission is to provide communications support for Marine Corps intelligence organizations and to conduct electronic warfare.

During OIF, 1st Radio Bn. supported forces in both Kuwait and Iraq, and half of the unit deployed in direct support of the ground attack.

Approximately 250 1st Radio Bn. Marines deployed February, to Kuwait and into Iraq in support of OIF. No return date has yet been set for the remainder of the deployed Marines.