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Ramona school students welcome home HMM-163 Marines

Marine Corps News

Release Date: 3/18/2004

Story by Lance Cpl. John Sayas

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif. (March 18, 2004) -- Nine-year-old Carl Steidl could not hold the excitement in too much longer. He had to say something to somebody because what he found out was the best news he had heard in almost five months - dad is finally coming home.

His excitement only grew over the next month, and it showed both at home and at school.

"Carl has been so ecstatic for the past month that it's been hard to keep him in line, and it's understandable because his dad is coming home," explained Randy Schimpf, Carl's 4th grade teacher at Barnett Elementary School in Ramona, Calif.

Word spread quickly among students in the classroom that Carl's father, Lt. Col. Eric Steidl, executive officer, Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 163 (Reinforced), would return March 8 from a six-month deployment along with more than 250 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing Marines who supported Expeditionary Strike Group 1 while attached to the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operation Capable).

13th MEU(SOC) forces participated in operations in Iraq, the North Arabian Gulf, Red Sea and Horn of Africa.

"My son's class found out that his dad was deployed, and they were very supportive," said Steidl's wife, Treva.

She said her son's classmates sent notes to the ship Steidl was stationed on to show their support of the military members serving overseas. They were also going to set up pen pals for the students, but the e-mail system was so irregular that Carl's teacher thought it would be great idea for the class to attend the homecoming to show their support for Steidl and other returning Marines.

"Most of the kids, including their teachers, have never been to a homecoming before," said Schimpf, who helped arrange the homecoming visit. "They see it all the time on the news that a lot of military stuff is going on in Afghanistan and Iraq and other parts of the world. I just thought it would be a great opportunity for them to come down and realize that these are people who left their families."

About 70 students and parents attended the homecoming after a month of planning and getting final approval from the school principal. They showed up at the flightline with excitement and much anticipation on seeing the Marines return home.

It was no surprise to Steidl that the students would be at the homecoming. He greeted them with as much enthusiasm as he could because of the long trip that he endured while returning home. After a short gathering, Steidl gave the students a tour of the helicopters before they returned to Ramona.

"I feel honored to be here because I know it is a rare opportunity to be able to attend a homecoming," said 48-year-old Kim Jose, a Ramona resident who came with his 9-year-old daughter.

Jose said that the support within the community of 3,500 homes is very strong because of the close proximity to military installations in the San Diego area and the many other public service personnel who live within the community. He hopes that the public will give more credit to servicemembers because of the many sacrifices they have to make while protecting the citizens of this country.

"I think (the military) is doing a great job. I feel that they are doing a good job and making some real progress," Jose said. "The sacrifice the families have to make is phenomenal. I have more and more respect everyday for the people who serve our military."