Squadrons return, welcomed home
Marine Corps News
Release Date: 6/6/2003
Story by Sgt. John Sayas
MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif.(June 1, 2003) -- Marines of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 323, Marine Wing Support Squadron 373, Marine Air Control Squadron 1 and Marine Air Group 11 Headquarters returned home after being deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom June 1-2.
Twelve pilots of VMFA-323 were among the first to arrive here to a crowd of family and friends waiting in front of Hangar 4 as they flew their F/A-18 "Hornets" from the USS Constellation. Their ground and maintenance crews arrived the following day on the USS Constellation at Naval Air Station North Island.
The "Death Rattlers" were deployed prior to Operation Iraqi Freedom Nov. 2 onboard the USS Constellation. The Marines flew missions during Operation Southern Watch, and were among the first to fly sorties during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Overall, VMFA-323 dropped 394,000 lbs. of ordnance during their tenure in Iraq.
Maj. Daniel "Knuckles" Shipley, F/A-18 Hornets pilot, VMFA-323, MAG-11, described his trip coming home as the "slowest ride you can imagine" after serving seven months overseas.
"It's exciting to see family and friends," Shipley said. "The couple weeks coming back home was painstaking, but at the same time, we continued to train and made things happen."
Shipley's sister, Christie Wade, who was accompanied by her husband, daughter, and mother, greeted him as he climbed down from his aircraft. They have only been in contact by e-mail and an occasional phone call from overseas since he left seven months ago.
"We are thrilled to have him back," said Christie, who will be in town for a few days before returning to Washington, D.C. "We are very proud of him, especially being a pilot. It's just an elite career that he has chosen."
Shipley's squadron performed mainly night operations over Iraq using night vision goggles and dropping some of the most sophisticated weaponry ever used. Although getting fired at by the Iraqis was dangerous, the most difficult part of his missions was trying to stay focused on returning back to the ship after several hours of flying.
"You get to see everything being shot at you, but at the same time, (the night vision goggles) allowed you to maneuver which was nice," Shipley explained.
"The flights were tiring, but it didn't end when our mission was done. We had to worry about flying back to the ship and landing at night. So by the time we got back, we would be totally exhausted."
Longtime friend of Shipley, Congressman Randy Duke Cunningham of California's 50th Congressional District, also came to welcome and his fellow Marines back home and congratulate them on a job well done.
"He has been doing a good job along with his other crewmembers overseas on a very tough mission," Cunningham said. "We are just glad they are home."
Cunningham, who also serves on the Defense subcommittee, which provides funding for our national defense and armed services, retired from the Navy in 1987.
He became one of the most highly decorated pilots and was shot down on his 300th mission during the Vietnam War while serving on the USS Constellation. His experiences helped him train some of the best fighter pilots at the Navy Fighter Weapons School - the famed "Top Gun" program.
The congressman addressed Marines and Sailors aboard the USS Constellation prior to its departure in November 2002 knowing the dangers and sacrifices that lay ahead. He returned to the air station to show his continued support for all service members still serving in very hostile territories.
"I think it's important for these young men and women to know that this nation supports them and that their president supports them because there are a lot of people still overseas in Iraq and Afghanistan risking their lives," he said. "This nation owes them a great debt."
Two hundred seventy-eight Marines of MWSS-373, MACS-1 and MAG-11 arrived later in the day on a 747 commercial airline to yet another cheering crowd of family and friends holding up "Welcome Home" signs. They were deployed in January and based in Kuwait. They later moved into Iraq providing support to ground troops moving north into Baghdad.
"We took care of business and are just glad to be back home," said Staff Sgt. Gordon P. Yandell, maintenance chief, Motor Transportation, MWSS-373.
After being dismissed from formation in front of the crowd, Marines were greeted with hugs and kisses and soon given some well deserved time off with their loved ones.
"I am going to spend some time with my sister and brother-in-law, play lots of golf and get back in the swing of things," Yandell said.
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