THE GLOBE, CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C.
JULY 19, 2012
5A
Photo by Cpl. Timothy Solano
Lance Cpl. Daniel Glisson, a machine gunner with 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, holds his 3-month-old daughter for the first time July 6.
2nd Battalion, 9th Marines’ families reunite at last CPL. TIMOTHY SOLANO 2nd Marine Division
E
lements of 2nd Battalion, 9th M a r i n e Regiment returned from a sevenmonth deployment to Afghanistan last week welcomed by crowds of friends and family outside the Wallace Creek barracks aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune. Expectant families waited for hours through
the evening of June 28 and into the following Friday morning as Marines were bussed from nearby Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, and stood in formation before reuniting with their families. For couples like Cpl. Alexander Suarez and his wife, Coral, the welcome home was too long overdue. “We got married in November, and he deployed in December,� said Coral, holding a sign for her husband to see once he ar-
rived. “It was rough, but I think it made us a lot stronger.� Many family members can attest to the challenge of overcoming the struggles of marriage as a stressful undertaking further complicated by a combat deployment. Communication only through infrequent phone calls and Facebook messages made it even more difficult for many. “If there was a problem or we were mad at each other I just wanted to text
him or call him to talk about it but I couldn’t,� said Coral. “I think it really taught us how to build a better emotional relationship.� Over the course of the deployment, Marines and their loved ones communicated through letters, emails and even brief video chats, but for families like the Glisson’s there would be no substitute for being present for the birth of their first daughter. “Daniel was able to use Skype to see her being
born,� said wife Morgan, “and I would always make sure he got to see her when we got to Skype. This deployment was much better for communication than the last one.� Lance Cpl. Daniel Glisson is a machine gunner with the battalion and for the first time July 6 he held his three-monthold daughter in his arms after being dismissed for liberty. “She’s the spitting image of her dad,� said Morgan. “I am just so stoked
he is finally home.� As the families disbanded and Marines grabbed their remaining articles of gear and bags, signs were packed away and tents were taken down. For wives like Coral Suarez, the stresses of the previous several months were irrelevant once her husband lifted her off her feet after running to her. She was easy to spot as her husband read her sign from within the formation. “Cpl. Suarez, Dame Besos, Mi Amor!�
Ashford A shford University University iss enhancing minds e nhancing tthe he m inds off ttoday’s o oday’s Marines. Marines.
Photo by Cpl. Timothy Solano
Marines offload bags for the returning Marines of 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment outside the Wallace Creek Barracks aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune. The last elements of the battalion were greeted by their families in front of the barracks July 6.
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