"BIG HUGS AND KISSES - Sgt. J- H- kisses his 2-year-old daughter, Brianna, as the two get their hugs in at a community send-off picnic Tuesday at Edwards Air Force Base. Hamilton and his squadron start for Iraq today." EVELYN KRISTO/Valley Press
Posted on 02/25/2004 10:04:32 AM PST by BenLurkin
EDWARDS AFB -- The Marines landed at Arnold Park on Edwards Air Force Base at noon Tuesday for a lunch with family members and well-wishers. The afternoon rendezvous was no ordinary day in the park, marking the last day for Marines to spend with their loved ones before deployment to the Middle East.
Members of HMM764, the Marine Corps Reserve medium helicopter squadron stationed at Edwards, and HMM769, the heavy helicopter squadron, took a short break from deployment preparations to share a meal of thanks donated by several local businesses and organizations.
Known as the "Moonlighters Squadron," HMM764 will depart Edwards tonight en route to another Southern California military base; there, the Marines will board planes bound for Kuwait. The Marines and their CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters eventually will replace the U.S. Army's 82nd Airborne troops in western Iraq.
The "Road Hogs" of HMM 769, whose air crew fly the big CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter, are expected to deploy to Afghanistan in about three weeks.
HMM 764's commanding officer, Lt. Col. M- B-, said his squadron of 150 Marines were coming off a three-day weekend, and will remain on base until they depart. Part of the 4th Marine Air Wing, the squadron will be part of the 3rd Marine Air Wing during its time in the Middle East.
"We've been so busy getting ready, most of the guys are 'let's go.' Some are apprehensive. Some have the jitters," B- said. "But the overall attitude is that if we're going to do it, let's do it!"
The Moonlighters were out in force at the picnic, while many of the Road Hogs were at their hangar, busily preparing their helicopters for transport to the Middle East. The Moonlighters' helicopters are already on a Kuwait-bound ship.
The Edwards squadrons, collectively Detachment Bravo of Marine Aircraft Group 46, moved to Edwards in 1999 when El Toro Marine Corps Station was closed as part of base realignment and closure.
L- R- of Fidelity National Title, one of the lunch's sponsors, said the event was a show of support for the Marines and their families. "My son just came back from Iraq with the 101st Airborne, so it was pretty easy for me to support this event," R- said. "But even if my son wasn't in the armed forces, it would have been easy to support."
"BIG HUGS AND KISSES - Sgt. J- H- kisses his 2-year-old daughter, Brianna, as the two get their hugs in at a community send-off picnic Tuesday at Edwards Air Force Base. Hamilton and his squadron start for Iraq today." EVELYN KRISTO/Valley Press
LOL......Me thinks the presstitute was in the security censorship groove a bit too deep...........:o)
Better safe than sorry ....but funny !
Stay Safe
Stay safe !
nothing like a ride on a CH53 stallion to shake the cobwebs loose .. ;-}
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