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MACS-1 returns from deployment

Marine Corps News

Story Identification #: 200534123823
Story by Cpl. Giovanni Lobello

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION YUMA, Ariz (March 3, 2005) -- After seven months of helping fight the war on terrorism, 250 Marines and two sailors from Marine Air Control Squadron-1 returned to station Feb. 27.

While in Iraq, MACS-1 divided its manpower into groups and helped support 10 forward operation bases around the country, supported major air operations and helped reconstruct an air control tower.

In less than a year, MACS-1 conducted approximately 225,600 airport operations, takeoffs and landings. In comparison, Yuma International Airport conducts approximately 220,000 airport operations in a year.

Some of the cities MACS-1 supported include Al Asad, Al Qaim, Najaf and Fallujah.

"The Marines did a great job," said Lt. Col. Tim J. Pierson, MACS-1 commanding officer. "They did everything they were supposed to and then some. I could not ask any more from these Marines. Words can not express the job these Marines did."

Pierson attributed some of the squadron's success to the training given by the Marines at Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron-1.

"In order to get ready for the deployment, we participated in a couple of MAWTS-1 Desert Talon training exercises," said Pierson. "MAWTS-1 also set up a ground combat deployment training exercise that really helped the Marines once they were in Iraq. The training MAWTS-1 provided enabled all the Marines to come back home. That is the impact MAWTS-1 had on our deployment all the Marines are back and alive."

Despite the readiness of the squadron, spending time away from their families proved to be challenging for both the Marines and their significant others.

"I'm happy and glad now that he's home," said Kimberly Fiske, wife of Sgt. Robert Fiske. "To help deal with my husband's departure, I went to South Dakota and stayed with my family. Staying with my family made it a little easier while my husband was gone, but it was still hard not having him around."

"I feel relieved and I have no more stress now that I am back," said Sgt. Brandon Johnson, MACS-1 Tactical Air Operation Center radar operator. "It was difficult because I missed them and I worried a lot about their safety. Now that I'm back, I plan on spending every moment with my family, not taking things for granted and appreciating my wife more."

"I feel a lot better now that (Brandon's) back, I feel more secure," said Johnson’s wife, Lucinda. "It was also really difficult for the kids while he was gone. Anytime something happened, they would start crying for their daddy. And it was not like he was a phone call away."

Now that the Marines have returned home, they can look forward to catching up and spending quality time with there loved ones.

Right now the primary mission for the squadron is to take leave, said Pierson.

"I plan on going home to Virginia Beach, spending time with my family and go marlin fishing," he said.

"Now that I'm back, my wife and I have plans to visit both my family and my wife's family," said Fiske.

"For the next couple of months I won't allow the Marines to do anything else but to take some leave," said Pierson. "I need the Marines to rest and get back up to speed. After the Marines get some rest, then we can come back and hit it hard again."