Families welcome Marines back from Iraq
GALVESTON — One of many messages inscribed on the car windows said it all: “My Marine is home.”
Family members stood with cameras in hand Wednesday afternoon as about 30 Marines climbed out of a Trailways bus at the reserve center in Galveston.
http://news.galvestondailynews.com/story.lasso?ewcd=4eb91dca938a47d5
By Kelly Hawes
The Daily News
Published April 27, 2006
There were lots of hugs and a few tears, but mostly smiles and laughter.
“This is such a relief,” La Marque resident Mike Lockwood said as his son, Matt, posed for photos.
His first sense of relief came a week ago, he said, when Matt called to say the unit had flown to Kuwait. Its members had been at Camp Lejeune, N.C., since Friday. They had flown to Houston on Wednesday before making the rest of the trip by bus.
Mike Lockwood said the family had no elaborate plans for the homecoming.
“He said he wanted some good, old-fashioned Mexican food.”
Members of the Galveston-based amphibious assault unit had been away from home for nearly a year. They spent much of the last seven months patrolling the Euphrates River near the Haditha Dam in Iraq.
“It was a long 10 months,” the younger Lockwood said, “but we did a lot of good over there.”
Members of the platoon carried out two or three patrols on the river just about every day of their tour.
“Once or twice, we were out there for 10 days in a row,” Lockwood said.
Mayor Lyda Ann Thomas was on hand with other members of the city council to greet the returning troops. She read a proclamation urging local residents to extend a hearty welcome and to offer thanks to the Marines for their sacrifices.
Joe Cleary, the platoon’s commanding officer, expressed his gratitude.
“It’s a special day for the Marines,” he said. “It’s good to be home.”
Cleary of League City stood surrounded by his wife, Kim, and three children, 16-month-old Grace, 8-year-old Jake and 6-year-old Austin. Grace, he said, had changed the most.
“She was not even crawling when I saw her last,” he said.
Like Cleary, Lockwood had some catching up to do. He and his wife, Shawna, will be getting reacquainted. They were married only weeks before he headed off for his latest deployment.
Shawna said the couple would be headed back to College Station, where he is studying for a degree in architecture.
“When I graduate,” he said, “I want to go to officers candidate school.”
Lockwood, the staff sergeant of the platoon, wants to make a career in the Marines.
“I’ve already been in for nine years,” he said. “I joined right out of high school.”
Cleary, Lockwood and about two-thirds of their colleagues were returning from their second deployment in Iraq. They spent five months there after the initial invasion.
Cleary said he fully expected to go back.
“I think we know we made a long-term commitment to the Iraqi people,” he said. “I do believe we will be back over there.”
Shawna Lockwood said she was ready for that.
“It’s his job,” she said.