On August 8th, 2012 my son returned safely home from his deployment to Afghanistan. I would like to like to thank family, friends, coworkers and the complete strangers who offered support to Adam, my wife and me. Not a single person who learned of his combat tour failed to thank him for his service and express concern for his safety. The Afghanistan War is not foremost in the minds of Americans as they go about the daily grind of getting and spending that is our life. However, when reminded that military men and women are still fighting and dying, people are gracious, thankful and humbled by their sacrifice.
When we learned that Adam was coming home from Afghanistan, the relief was palpable. He was posted to a country where a sizable percentage of the population was actively trying to kill him and for five months we had tried to suppress those thoughts and concerns. We knew that his job would take him “over the wire” and into the combat zone. This was especially difficult for my wife because mothers never stop worrying in the best of times. We did not know how often and how dangerous those missions were until we saw the pictures of Adam in full battle armor and of Marine vehicles destroyed by IEDs.
The journey home from Afghanistan took several days, yet thanks to social media and cell phones, he kept us informed of his progress each leg of the journey. The first stop was Kyrgyzstan, where they had a day and a half layover. He was still in a far off ‘stan, but no longer in a war zone. Thanks to Facebook updates we learned that the next stop was Germany, then after landing in Maine, he texted that he was finally back in the United States.
We were told to arrive at Camp Pendleton for the homecoming at 8pm. The Marines would land at March AFB and be bused to parade ground where we would meet. The buses had to first stop at the armory, so they could all turn in their weapons. At 8pm that evening everything was going according to plan, Adam’s friends and family were all arriving on the base and he texted that they had just driven through the gates, as well.
As expected, the scene at the parade ground was the exact opposite of melancholy and trepidation we experienced months ago when he first deployed. Joyful anticipation was the prevailing mood. Smiles, laughter, nervous banter and lots of children turned the wait into a celebration. The Marines supplied hot dogs and dessert for the gathering. There were many welcome home signs, including a large 3D sign my wife created for Adam. There was no mistaking, this was a celebration.
The separation from their families took varying tolls on the returning Marines. One of the most touching sights was a mother holding a four month old baby, who had yet to meet her father. On the other hand, we spoke with a wife who said all the right things to us, but as soon as they returned home that night she informed her husband she was divorcing him. The casualties of war are not all on the battlefield.
Lest we forget, there are still men and women dying in Afghanistan. Adam now wears a black wristband in memory of one of his sergeants, killed in a “green on blue” attack when an Afghan soldier opened fire on a group of Marines.
The 9pm arrival time came and went and calls to the Marines on the bus revealed that the count of weapons turned in to the armory did not match the master list. It took over two hours and three separate tries; including pulling all the weapons back out and starting over from scratch before the count matched and the buses finally were allowed to proceed to the parade ground and the homecoming reunion we had all been anticipating.
The six white buses finally drove onto the parade ground. They parked in a line, bumper to bumper and doors facing away from the waiting crowd. The Marines disembarked and assembled in formation, hidden from us by the buses. When they were empty, the buses drove off, leaving the returning Marines 100 feet away from their friends and family. There was a slight pause and then in a scene that resembled the start of a battle from “Braveheart”, the two sides advanced on each other and came together in the middle, except instead of clubs and swords, these warriors were met with tears, hugs and kisses.
The returning Marines had 96 hours of leave coming, but school and work the next day loomed for the most of the others. The parade ground quickly emptied, home and private reunions beckoned. Adam had not eaten since landing in Maine, so at 2am we ended our day with the meal he had been anticipating the entire time he was in Afghanistan. A San Diego restaurant, Slater’s 50/50, makes a half ground beef and half ground bacon hamburger, topped with a fried egg, add a beer and surrounded by friends, family and Marine buddies it was an All-American end to a much anticipated day.
