Marine Corps News Room

http://www.trentonian.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18245017&BRD=1697&PAG=461&dept_id=44551&rfi=6

JOE D’AQUILA, Staff Writer

04/22/2007

They were U.S. Marines, back from Iraq, and the awaiting mob was made up of the friends and family members who’ve missed them for months.

The fighting men and women arriving in buses at the Trenton Mercer Airport yesterday were the Marine Reserves of the 3rd Battalion, 14th Marine Regiment’s Golf Battery, and the scene was a heartfelt one.

Signs, in hands, on cars and affixed, contained messages like: "Thank you for fighting for our freedom," "Semper Fi," and simply "Welcome Home."

Their motor-coaches were preceded by a miles-long motorcade of motorcycles that came roaring in to announce their arrival.

Grown men wept openly upon the first sight of the Marine packed buses, and husbands and wives embraced with salty, tear-streaked kisses as relief kicked in with the realization that the safety was real -- their children were home.

"Oh my God!" some screamed. "There they are!"

They’d been back in country, back from Iraq, at Camp LeJeune, N.C., for about a week, and now they were finally coming home.

As the buses pulled in through the flag-waving crowd, only the outlines of standing Marines were visible through the blackened glass windows.

Bus occupants and the waiting loved ones sought that long-awaited connection.

The reunion had been delayed, and their arrival in Ewing was about three hours later than expected. The anticipation was only heightened though, and spirits were never dampened.

But there was one more hurdle.

After getting off the bus, the Marines stood in formation, the crowd circling in around them, eager to pounce with hugs and kisses.

As they stood though -- the tension building to unbearable levels -- local politicians sought to "show their support" by making welcome home speeches.

"Come on," people shouted from the crowd, as the pols pontificated. "Let them go already."

Then, all in one great whoosh, the celebrations were finally underway, as the Marines in the center of an ever collapsing circle welcomed this type of attack.

For one Marine, 33-year-old Sgt. Jason Rivers, his homecoming was filled with surprises.

Rivers’ entire family came up from Philadelphia and the surrounding area to surprise him as he got off the bus, but he had been under the impression he’d be greeted by a much smaller party, according to his mother Ida Harris.

"I told him just me and his kids were coming to pick him up," Harris said. "It ended up being seven carloads. I knew it was going to be seven cars, the whole family came, and he was really, really surprised."

Harris said it had been nine months since she saw her son and she was relieved that he was back at home.

"I was overwhelmed," she said. "I just cried and cried and cried. I just thanked God that he came home safely to me."

For one group in attendance though, there would be tears, but no tearful reunion.

The homecoming for this particular Burlington County family should have come two years ago, but in May of 2005, 33-year-old Sgt. Anthony Goodwin, was killed in action.

But Goodwin’s mother, Brenda Cheney, wouldn’t have missed yesterday’s event for the world.

When her Anthony was taken from her, she said it was First Sgt. Rufino Mendez who was saddled with the task of bringing the news.

"Ever since then, Sgt. Mendez has been just like family to us," Cheney said.

She said they stayed in touch, and the Marine’s mother eventually took to mothering the men and women of 14th Regiment.

"When I heard that his reserves were going over, I said, ‘well put me in touch with them,’" she said.

Yesterday, Mendez said he was glad to be home, and said his Marines wouldn’t be heading back to war anytime soon.

"We’re not going anywhere," Mendez said. "These boys and girls are done."

He also spoke of Goodwin’s family and what they had come to mean to him.

"These folks are a class act," he said. "I had to be the one to go over there and tell them, and they welcomed me with opened arms."

When Cheney offered to help Mendez’s reserves group, he put the grieving mother in touch with another First Sgt. Daniel Manriques, of Fresno California.

Manriques, though he never knew Cheney’s son, knew his reputation, and he had nothing but praise for the fallen sergeant.

"Her son was just a Marine’s Marine," Manriques said.

The 18-year Marine Corps veteran said his role was mainly an administrative one for the 3rd Battalion, where he at times serves as anything from legal advisor to marriage counselor.

He said that when he got in touch with Cheney it was clear that she just wanted to help The Corps, and care packages that she sent to Iraq, made life a little more comfortable in a difficult situation.

"People are dying over there," he said. "They’re dying, sometimes, and its an invisible enemy. You don’t see them.

"You’re just waiting for your turn. When is it your turn to roll over a mine? When is it your turn?"

Manriques said he knew the 3rd Battalion had lost some of its Marines during its latest tour in Iraq, though he wasn’t sure how many. He said though that the 220 members of the Golf Battery were all OK, and 107 members came home yesterday, as others serving in the Battery were allocated from other units.

Manriques said that after he helps the Battalion’s reservist make their exit from the service, he’ll attempt to make his own homecoming in California, where his wife and two children are -- including a four-month-old boy he has yet to meet.

"I can’t wait to see my son," he said.

And while she couldn’t see her own son, Manriques said he believed Cheney used her continued involvement with the Marines to help her throughthe pain of her loss.

For Cheney, she said she feels she’s now part of a larger family.

"They treated me with such respect, that I felt it was just right for me to be here when they came back," Cheney said. "They’ve been there for me, I want to be there for them.

"I know that I have no one coming home, but I do have someone coming home. The Marine Corps, we’re family, and Marines take care of Marines."