VMGR-352 home again
Marine Corps News
Release Date: 6/5/2003
Story by Cpl. Krystal N. Leach
MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif.(May 18, 2003) -- Approximately 64 Marines from Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 352 returned here May 18.
The "Raiders" deployed to the Middle East in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in late January.
Families and fellow service members lined the tarmac awaiting the return of their loved ones and comrades.
"I'm pretty excited," said Sonja J. Hoffman, spouse of Staff Sgt. Micheal A. Hoffman, KC-130 loadmaster. He has been away from home for more than one year.
"He did a one-year unaccompanied tour overseas prior to the war, then he came back to the states and we bought a new home, and only a few weeks later he was called to deploy," Hoffman continued. "Now he'll get a chance to enjoy our new house."
Deployments may be a common event for Marines and their families, but war is something new for many.
Cynthia Miller, spouse, explained that she has gone through her share of deployments but this one was a little more challenging.
"This one was a lot different than the others," she explained. "For a long time there was no phone or e-mail communications. The only way we could keep in touch was through letters."
Miller confessed that the experience left her with a newfound respect for the military spouse of the World War II era, where the only form of communication was through letters as well.
Upon glancing toward the skyline the sight of the Raiders' KC-130 formation approaching the air station's Hangar 4 brought tears of joy and relief to many of the onlookers.
As the three KC-130's pulled up nose first toward the spectators, the sounds of cheers and the waving of homemade signs brought smiles to everyone's faces.
"I'm ecstatic that they're finally here!" replied the spouse of a returning Marine.
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