The call of duty ~~Marine squadrons deploy to Iraq
Members of Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 533, the Hawks, and Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 31 made the long walk to a transport plane Sunday as they prepared for the long trip to Iraq.
http://www.beaufortgazette.com/local_news/story/5492928p-4952545c.html
Published Mon, Jan 30, 2006
By MICHAEL R. SHEA
The Beaufort Gazette
Family members embraced while their Marines, toting rucksacks and rifles, walked down the runway toward seven months at Camp Al Asad, Iraq, near the Syrian and Jordanian borders.
"I have two brothers who were down there," said Lance Cpl. Nicholas Brown. "They'll both have two tours on their belt, and I'm just getting my first."
Brown's enthusiasm wasn't matched by his wife, Tonia, who shrugged when asked about the day.
"I don't want him to go," she said while 2-year-old Kyler sat on his dad's backpack.
"He was hiding in it the other day," Brown said.
The Hawks, an F/A 18D squadron, will replace the Moonlighters squadron in western Iraq as the principle air support for Marines on the ground.
In most cases, they'll escort convoys providing close air support and scout roads before land units roll, said Capt. John Bussard.
"Often the very presence of air support is enough of a deterrent to keep insurgents at bay," he said. "Sometimes the sound of the jets is all it takes."
Eighteen-year-old Ashton Agan didn't want to hear any jets or planes Sunday. The newlywed buried herself into her mother's side when her husband, Matt, joined his squad.
"They were married in September," said Ashton's mom, Leslie Lipscomb.
Matt's mother, Lorri Gauthier, dried her own eyes.
"We expect that he'll be safe," she said. "Many prayers go out to the whole squadron."
The Marines learned of their departure more than a year ago and spent weeks in California and Arizona running mock missions, dropping real bombs and acclimating to sand and heat.
"They're ready for this," said
Lt. Col. C.J. Mullin, who'll be the ranking squad officer in Iraq. "I'm anticipating in the next seven months having an oversight and support role as the Iraqi defense forces step up and take more of the defense tasks and secure their own cities."
Contact Michael R. Shea at 298-1057 or mshea@beaufortgazette.com.