News
A Heartfelt 'Welcome Home' For Iraq Vets
By Ryan Fennell
RED BANK - The Marines of Combat Logistics Battalion 46, deployed to Iraq last May, returned home to Red Bank Monday night to a heroes welcome by family, friends, and numerous veteran's organizations.
Family and friends gathered at the Headquarters and Service Company 6th Motor Transport Battalion in Red Bank prior to the Marines arrival for food and refreshments. They carried signs and wore t-shirts that adorned their loved ones pictures and sat and spoke in anticipation of the Marines return.
When the buses arrived the families lined the driveway, cheering and waving in excited anticipation of hugging and kissing them again once they arrived inside the building.
In May 2009, 135 Marines left Red Bank and headed for training at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. The bulk of the Marines deployed to Iraq in August after several months of desert training in California and was ordered to spend seven months on the ground in Iraq.
Due to Marine Corps efforts in Al Anbar Province of Iraq, as well as the draw down of forces, Combat Logistics 46 was brought home over a month early. The bulk of the Marines arrived at Camp Lejeune on February 6, but were delayed in their return to Red Bank because of the inclement weather along the East Coast over the weekend.
Julie Hanks and her four children awaited the return of Master Sergeant Mark Hanks, a 23-year veteran on his first deployment. "It was hard at first," Hanks said. "We got into our routine and the days kind of went by. Weekends were the hardest because everybody was with their families." Hanks said that she was able to speak with her husband more than she thought she would because of the Internet.
For many of the families whose husband, wife, son, or daughter was in Iraq, the Internet provided significant oppor tunities for communication.
"We talked almost daily," Hanks said.
Hanks said that she was able to link up with her husband on Christmas morning and he was able to watch his children open their gifts through the streaming video. "I'm definitely ready for it to be over," Hanks said. "I told him when he gets back I'm going on vacation." After departing the buses the Marines were lined up in the hall but not for long because the anticipation of seeing their families again overwhelmed many of them and the line came crashing through the crowds as husbands hug wives, fathers and mothers hugged children, and friends hugged friends.
"It was like the last two days I was real excited and when we got closer on the bus I was more excited and after I saw my daughter I was like you can't hold us back. I've got a whole bunch of emotions. I'm glad to be back," Msgt. Hanks said after reuniting with his family. Keisha Neal, whose husband, Gunnery Sergeant Dana Neal, was returning from his third deployment, was waiting with the couple's two child and a third on the way.
"It's been pretty good. We moved in with my parents and had a lot of support this time," Neal said.
"It's been a way of life," Neal said of the experiences since her husband has been serving for 16 years. "It's like a honeymoon all over again," every time he comes home Neal added. Shania Neal, 1, was only a few months old when her father left for Iraq last May. When she laid eyes on her father it was with the intensity that only a one-year old girl could look at her father. Her eyes widened and her mouth dropped open and she reached out her arms as if she couldn't believe her father was standing in front of her.
"It feels great," to be back home Neal said. "Nothing can compare to coming, back especially seeing my wife and kids."
Maureen Reilly of Smithville in South Jersey was awaiting the return of her only son Lieutenant Corporal Jason Reilly from his first deployment. "I've greatly missed him," Reilly said. "It's an awesome thing to send your one and only child to a war front. I'm glad they're home."
Reilly had turned 21 on Sunday and his mother called his return on Monday an "excellent birthday present." Reilly's girlfriend, Amanda Baals, was also in Red Bank to welcome Reilly home. "It's been up and down with hard days and easier days," Baals said. "It's been a lot of missing him. I've been looking forward to this day a lot."
"There are no words," Reilly said after reuniting with his mother and girlfriend. "It's great. It makes what I did over there worth it." According to Msgt. Hanks, this was the last complete Marine Corps Unit in Iraq. "It was like we were shutting the doors and turning out the lights," Hanks said. "The Iraqi people and government are taking stuff on on their own. But without the six years or so (of American support) there's no way they could've gotten to this point. The Iraqi people are very resilient people. What they want is exactly what we have right here." Hanks said the Marines have closed their chapter in Iraq, being replaced by the Army, and the focus now shifts to Afghanistan.
