VMA-223 pilots return from 24th MEU
US Marine Corps News
8/11/2010
By Lance Cpl. Tyler J. Bolken, Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point
MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. -- Six AV-8B Harriers and pilots from Marine Attack Squadron 223 returned to Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, Aug. 10, after a seven-month deployment with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit.
More than 150 Marines from VMA-223 deployed to support the expeditionary unit, the remainder of the squadron is scheduled to return to air station Wednesday aboard six MV-22B Ospreys.
“It was long and painful but rewarding at the same time,” said Capt. Jason Rubin, Harrier pilot with VMA-223. “We did a lot of great stuff out there.”
The VMA-223 Marines and Harriers were attached to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 266 while aboard the USS Nassau.
Capt. Trevor J. Felter, Harrier pilot with VMA-223, said the MEU spent nearly 200 days at sea and only eight days in port during the deployment.
Disaster stricken Haiti was top priority for the 24th MEU at the onset of the deployment. The Marines and Sailors of the MEU were among the first U.S. service members to provide humanitarian relief following the earthquake in January.
The MEU then continued onto regularly scheduled training missions in various nations around the Middle East and Mediterranean, explained Capt. Christopher E. Brandt, current operations officer for VMA-223.
The MEU spent most of the remainder of the deployment supporting a joint task force off the horn of Africa.
“Every moment of this is wonderful,” said Felters wife Jessica of her husband’s return.
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