Behind us, the buses carrying the Marines and sailors from 2nd Battalion 4th Marine Regiment back from their overseas deployment pulled to a stop at their camp located in the northern most region of Camp Pendleton. All along one side of the grinder were gathered the families and friends of these Marines. Their cheering drowned out the sound of our bikes and still sounds in my ears. A military homecoming commenced.
The Marines quickly dismounted and formed up. The buses departed. Finally, after months of being away, the Marines were dismissed. Marines and family members rushed to find one another. Of course, it was more challenging for the families and friends, because all the Marines and sailors were dressed identically in their green MarPat camouflage uniforms. But this challenge was knocked out of the way, just as the Marines and sailors had been knocking other challenges out of the way during the deployment.
Having dismounted, I stood with my fellow riders as we watched the joy unique to a military homecoming. Two scenes are indelibly recorded in my memory. In the first, a young wife, all too young, walked towards the Marines. In her arms was a little tyke, all decked out in red, white, and blue. The child looked to be of an age to have been born when her father was overseas. The young wife was straining to catch a glimpse of her Marine, one among the sea of camouflage. Finally, they had their homecoming. Hugs, kisses, and tears were evident, even from my distant spot on the side of the grinder. Watching a young father hold his child for the first time reminded me of holding my eight month old son for the first time, after i had returned from my first overseas deployment.
In the second, a mother and father were walking through the sea of camouflage and civilian attire immediately in front of us. Holding a sign on which their son's name was prominent and wearing t-shirts emblazoned with the battalion's name, they searched face after face, looking for their Marine. Anticipation and angst were on their faces. Then a strapping young Marine calmly walked up from their left, put his arm around his mother, and said, "Hi, Mom." Predictably, "Mom" cried out in joy, hugging her son with tears rolling down her cheek. Seeing us, she spontaneously exclaimed how he'd grown. We congratulated the Marine, welcoming him home, and shook hands with mom and dad.
Such were the two memories I'll carry with me. Further, I'll remember the strain behind the smiles of the wives, parents, brothers, sisters, and friends who were holding onto their Marines and sailors. This strain comes from the knowledge that military life is hazardous (four Marines had recently died on the base, while working to clear unexploded ordnance), deployments dangerous, and stories of the death and destruction in Afghanistan not too distant.
Their Marine or sailor had safely returned to a wondrous military homecoming. There is nothing like it in the world. The reuniting of the husband and wife; parents and children; friends and extended family.
While we sit over our morning cup of coffee, tens of thousands of our Marines, sailors, soldiers, airmen, and coast guardsmen serve in locations far away form their families. Eventually the day will come when they return for their military homecoming. You may be fortunate enough to witness one, at a local airport or other place. If you do, please take a moment and thank that Marine, sailor, soldier, airman, or coast guardsman and he/her spouse or parents for all their sacrifice for our freedoms.
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