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30 NCR Completes 12-Month Iraq Deployment

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS080324-17
Release Date: 3/24/2008 3:28:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Ernesto Hernandez Fonte, 30th Naval Construction Regiment Public Affairs

PORT HUENEME, Calif. (NNS) -- After a 12-month deployment to Fallujah in the Al Anbar province of Iraq, the 30th Naval Construction Regiment (30 NCR) returned to Naval Base Ventura County March 18.

The regiment deployed as two teams -- Blue and Gold. Each team deployed for six months with Capt. Katherine Gregory commanding Blue and Capt. Hans Probst commanding Gold. Gregory turned over command of 30 NCR Forward in Fallujah on Sept. 11.

More than 50 Seabees returned home on the final flight for 30 NCR and a throng of family members and 30 NCR Blue team members waited to greet them.

"It's great to be back on American soil," said Chief Storekeeper (SS) Randy Tiede, Camp Fallujah Class IV Procurement lead. "I'm looking forward to seeing my family and the friends that I've made here in California."

Families were waiting at the flight line in Naval Air Station Point Mugu to greet their returning loved ones who had been traveling for 24 hours.

"At first, I didn't think she would remember me," said Lt. j.g. Daniel Sommerville, operations engineering officer, as he held his daughter Abbey for the first time in nine months. His wife had shown Abbey pictures of him while he was on deployment. "When I heard her call me daddy, I knew she hadn't forgotten. None of us want to be separated from our families, but we know our sacrifice wasn't in vain. I think we made a difference over there."

While deployed, the regiment exercised command and control over two Marine Battalions, two Army Battalions and four Naval Mobile Construction Battalions in support of the 1st and 2nd Marine Expeditionary Forces in the Al Anbar province of Iraq. More than 400 successful projects were completed under 30 NCR which included more than 224,840 man-hours.

The regiment participated in a turn-over of authority ceremony with 22 NCR March 11, which marked the official end of 30 NCR's command and control of critical construction efforts in the Middle East.

For more news from 30th Naval Construction Regiment, visit www.navy.mil/local/30NCR/.