3200 sailors & Marines return home

NORFOLK, Va. - For thousands of families, the end of something had never felt so good. Seven months they waited for just one day - December 8th and the return of the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group.

"We've missed him a lot and we're very proud of him," one woman said, "So proud of everybody, it's just wonderful, " her mother added.

Now that the day arrived, it was hard for them to stand still at Naval station Norfolk with so much emotion building within. "I couldn't even get to bed last night, it took me forever to get to bed and I woke up excited," Sarah Libby said waiting for her friend who was aboard the USS Bataan.

Rather than watching the clock, the families fixed their eyes on the pier as the USS Ponce and USS Bataan completed their final stretch.

Then finally, patience turned to persistence and the wait was over.   Three thoursand, two hundred sailors and Marines were finally home, just in time for the holidays, embracing the people who waited so long.

"We missed Thanksgiving, but being home for Christmas makes it that much more special and it's great," Marine Capt. Terry Alexander told WAVY.com.

Crowds of people got one heck of an early gift.

Melissa McDonald got two. Her boyfriend of 11 years, IS1 Michael Ziaren got off the USS Bataan and got down on one knee.

McDonald said yes as the ring slipped on her finger.

"We've been together 11 years so it's a long time apart," she sobbed. "It's been rough, but we got through it, everything is good," her new fiancee added.

It was quite a finish to a sevem-month mission at sea; nearly as tough as the job back home. "What we do, we do everyday, but it's not everyday my wife has to be mom and dad," said Capt. Sam Howard, the USS Bataan's Commanding Officer.

On a day when people felt a frigid winter's grip, they also found warmth in the embrace of love.

-----------

The Bataan Amphibious Ready Group is comprised of the amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5), the amphibious transport dock ship USS Ponce (LPD 15), the amphibious dock landing ship USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43). It also included Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON) 2, Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 22 Detachment 4, Fleet Surgical Team (FST) 6, Tactical Air Control Squadron (TACRON) 21 Detachment 1, and detachments from Assault Craft Unit (ACU) 2, ACU4 and Beachmaster Unit (BMU) 2.

"Completing a successful deployment and bringing all of the Sailors and Marines safely back home to their families accomplished one of my major goals," said Capt. Paul McElroy, commander of the Bataan ARG. "The support of our families is the foundation that has carried us through these seven challenging months, so it's great to reunite with them before the holidays."

The Bataan and Ponce are homeported at Naval Station Norfolk. The Fort McHenry is from Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek.

"It's hard being out at sea for such a long time, but my wife has been the core of my support," said Information Systems Technician 1st Class Michael Spicer, from Virginia Beach, Va. "She has handled all of the responsibilities I had at home and has done an exceptional job."

The Bataan Amphibious Ready Group spent their deployment in the Navy's 5th and 6th Fleet areas of operation in support of maritime security operations and seven theater security cooperation engagements and exercises, including Bright Star 2009, the Fifth Fleet's largest multinational exercise.

"Every mission, every exercise and every port visit conducted by these Sailors and Marines made a lasting impact throughout the maritime domain," said Bataan's commanding officer, Capt. Sam Howard. "I'm extremely proud of their performance, professionalism and accomplishments."

The Bataan Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) was the first ARG/MEU to deploy with the MV-22B Osprey. The Ospreys, which were based on the Bataan, are a versatile, medium-lift aircraft that can fly and hover like a helicopter, or tilt its wing-mounted propellers forward to fly like an airplane.

Bataan launched 10 MV-22B Ospreys from Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 263 (Reinforced), 22nd MEU, to fly into Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, Nov. 6, marking the first time the aircraft were used in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.