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-
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