MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- Marines and Sailors unloaded buses and dashed with exuberance to greet awaiting family and friends. An overwhelming excitement and joyfulness showed on the usually stern faces of Marines as they met loved ones for the first time in months.
Anticipation filled faces with eagerness when camouflage filled buses pulled into the 22 Area Parade Deck Friday. Several hundred Marines and Sailors with 1st Marine Logistics Group, I Marine Expeditionary Force, returned from Iraq.
"It's so relieving to finally have our daughter home with us again," said Denise R. Otton-Allbee, mother of Pfc. Nicole D. Otton-Allbee, a 19-year-old from San Antonio, Texas, with 1st Medical Battalion. "I haven't seen her in over a year."
A majority of returning Marines were from the 1st MLG Headquarters element. The unit served in several locations in Iraq, including Camp Fallujah, Camp Al Taqaddum and Al Asad Air Base.
The deployment was part of two seven-month assignments, but many Marines stayed for the greater duration of 14 months.
Colonel David M. Richtsmeier, Commanding Officer, 1st MLG (FWD), handed over command of deployed MLG Multi-National Forces West in Al Taqaddum, Iraq, to 2nd MLG Jan. 30, just before returning to Camp Pendleton.
"It's great to be home," he said. "I feel this welcoming was well received and many of the Marines are glad to be back from their second and third deployment."
The unit arrived 30 minutes prior to their expected time of arrival. Although early, many family members had already been anxiously waiting for several hours.
The solemn parade deck that generally Marines marching in unison, took a life of its own and was filled with loud cheers and laughter. Families were reunited with each other as they hugged and kissed their just-returned loved ones.
"It feels so good to be home," said Cpl. Austin R. Keelty, watch clerk, Combat Service Support Group. "I couldn't be more happy to see my family and friends after such a long period of time."
Several faces were filled with tears of joy as husbands reunited with their wives. Children struggled desperately to drag their parents over-sized sea bags across the parade deck.
"It feels great to be home with my wife," said Staff Sgt. James W. Walker Jr., Commodity Manager, Combat Service Support Element, Combat Logistics Regiment 17.
Only moments after Marines and Sailors with 1st MLG had arrived at the parade deck, they left the concrete slab to spend their first weekend back home with family and friends.