3rd MAW families welcome Marines, sailors home

Marine Corps News ^ | 03/07/05 | Lance Cpl. Skye Jones

[SandRat]

3rd MAW families welcome Marines, sailors home
Submitted by: MCAS Miramar
Story Identification #: 20053910339
Story by Lance Cpl. Skye Jones



MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif. (Mar. 7, 2005) -- Maj. Gen. Keith Stalder, commanding general, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, and more than 230 3rd MAW Marines returned home to Miramar March 7 after supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom, completing the unit's longest deployment in its 62-year history.

"I'm so excited and relieved that he's finally back. This time hopefully it's for good," smiled Bethany Stalder, the 22-year-old daughter of the 3rd MAW commander. "I'm extremely proud of him and I'm glad that he made it home safe."

Stalder was among the 13,000 servicemembers who deployed to Iraq in 2004. During 3rd MAW's 13-month deployment, more than 200 aircraft flew close-air and convoy support missions, while ground support units escorted convoys and kept aircraft in the air.

Third MAW's helicopters and transport planes also helped ferry more than 1,500 Independent Election Commission of Iraq poll workers to voting sites in the Al Anbar Province during the Iraqi election Jan 30. Their efforts made it possible for the country to hold its first free elections in more than 50 years.

Minutes before the arrival of the aircraft transporting 3rd MAW, one spouse reflected upon the time she spent separated from her husband.

"It's been hard having him gone," said Jane Olaru, looking out into the sky, trying to spot the plane carrying her companion, Staff Sgt. Constantin Olaru, customer service staff noncommissioned officer-in-charge, Consolidated Personnel Administrative Center, 3rd MAW, back to her arms.

"I always worried about his safety over there and prayed for him everyday. I just wanted him to come back."

When the chartered aircraft landed on the flight line, cheers erupted from the crowd. As soon as loved ones spotted their Marines and Sailors, some enthusiastically called their names and snapped photographs.

One by one, returning Marines and Sailors gathered into formation before the onlookers, gazing out at the passionate crowd.

As soon as Jane spotted her husband, her enthusiasm peaked immediately.

"There he is. There's dad!" she cried out, pointing him out to her three children.

Jane and the rest of the crowd anxiously waited a few more minutes while Stalder addressed the crowd and returning servicemembers.

"Welcome home Marines and thanks to all the families for coming down to meet us," Stalder remarked. "These 3rd MAW Marines in front of you have written new chapters for the Marine Corps, complete with valor, victory and combat in places like Najaf and Fallujah ... their efforts have made a tremendous difference."

"The real message here is thank you, and thank you to all our Marines who have served in Iraq," he continued. "I also thank the families for their great support and sacrifices."

Stalder then released the Marines to their friends, family members and loved ones, who showered them with affection.

"Did you all miss daddy?" asked Maj. Scott Frampton, administrative deputy director, 3rd MAW, to his three children.

Frampton's children responded by giving their father a huge hug.

"I missed them so much," he said. "I plan on going to all of the amusement parks like Disneyland and Sea World with them. I want to catch up on everything that I missed."

Stalder also has plans of his own for Frampton and all of the other Marines who just arrived home.

"This group of Marines is going to get rested, take some leave and enjoy time with their families," he said. "When we return to work next week, we'll start right off where we left off and begin training for the next set of deployments."

Stalder's daughter couldn't be happier to spend time with her father.

"I'm just glad he's home so he can be dad again," she said.

-30-

Photos included with story:

Natalie, 4, shares a secret with her dad, Maj. Scott Frampton, deputy director, administration, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, after his arrival from Iraq March 7. Frampton was part of the longest 3rd MAW deployment in its history. Photo by: Lance Cpl. Skye Jones

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Lt. Col. Greg Grinaker, Air Traffic Control Officer, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, holds his son after returning home from Iraq March 7. Grinaker was part of the longest 3rd MAW deployment in its history. Photo by: Lance Cpl Skye Jones

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A Marine wife holds up a sign that she made for husband at his homecoming March 7. She has been waiting for months for her husband to return from Iraq. Photo by: Lance Cpl Skye Jones

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Family members, friends and fellow Marines anxiously wait for their loved ones to rush into their arms after catching a glimpse of the aircraft arriving back from Iraq March 7. Photo by: Lance Cpl Skye Jones

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[SandRat]

Semper Fi!

[SandRat]

Marines Home safe and reunited.

[nw_arizona_granny]

Thank you God, they are home.

My heart was stopped, while reading about the wife wanting to be the first to spot the airplane they were on.

[SandRat]

There are many on FR that can tell you the same sort of thing happens from inside the plane as well and those windows are only so big and not big enough. It's been that way since the military started using planes to move troops and stopped using ships.

They are as happy to be home safe as we are to have them home safe.

[sergeantdave]

Good homecoming story.

Semper fi, Marines.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!