COVERING WHIDBEY ISLAND’S NAVAL AIR STATION COMMUNITY
Whidbey
VOLUME 1, NO. 40 | 30 DECEMBER 2011
www.whidbeycrosswind.com
Looking back on 2011 Nine months of Crosswind memories Since Whidbey Crosswind launched on April 1, we don’t have a full year of memories to look back on, but we have generated quite a list in our first nine months:
April Our premiere issue featured a look at the lives of Navy spouses, who stand faith-
SEE YEAR | PAGE 2
(Above) Jennifer Kochanski kisses her husband, Lt. Anthony Kochanski, at the homecoming of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 138 on Dec. 23 at NAS Whidbey Island. (Top right) Four EA-18G Growlers from VAQ138 fly in formation as the squadron returns to NAS Whidbey. (Right) Yellow Jackets Executive Officer, Cmdr. Andrew DeMonte, embraces his children, Araminta, 15, Nicky, 9, and Jazzy, 13, upon his arrival at NAS Whidbey Island on Dec. 23.
THIS EDITION Crosswind nine months in review ....................pg. 2
KATHY REED/WHIDBEY CROSSWIND
Welcome home, Yellow Jackets By KATHY REED Whidbey Crosswind
T
he reds and greens of holiday decorations were replaced with the black and yellow balloons representing the Yellow Jackets of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 138 Friday, as squadron personnel returned Dec. 23, just in time to celebrate Christmas with their families. The squadron left last May for Iraq, marking only the second expeditionary deployment for a squadron of EA-18G Growlers. For family members gathered at Haviland Hangar on Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, the squadron’s return was an unexpected gift. “We did not expect them home for Christmas,” said Angie DeMonte, whose husband, Cmdr. Andrew DeMonte, is the
squadron’s Executive Officer. “January or February was what we thought.” DeMonte said she kept the news of her husband’s homecoming a secret from her three children — Araminta, 15, Jazzy, 13, and Nicky, 9 — until she was absolutely sure the squadron would be returning. As one might imagine, the kids were anxious to see their dad. “Half the family is missing,” said Jazzy, who was already planning to go snowboarding with her dad. “There were lots of times we set the table for five without thinking,” acknowledged DeMonte, who said her husband’s deployments seem to get harder for the children. “To be honest, it does get harder the older they get, because now they realize what they’re missing,” she said.
For others, the homecoming was a welcome chance to reconnect and strengthen bonds. Mary Clarity was there with her daughters, 2-and-a-half-year-old Isla and 3-and-a-half-month-old Mae. She said her husband, Lt. Cmdr. Tom Clarity, had missed Mae’s birth, but had been able to come home for 10 days shortly after. Even though they hadn’t been together for several months, Clarity was philosophical about it. “You can’t work your life around the Navy, because the Navy always changes your plans,” she laughed. “But for me, the last stage (of a deployment) is the hardest, because you know they’re coming home soon, and I’m not a patient
SEE HOMECOMING | PAGE 3
Movie times at Skywarrior Theater ..................pg. 3 Sarah Smiley: Filling Dustin’s spot at the table ....pg. 4 Polar Bear Plunge set for New Year’s Day ..............pg. 5
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