Cherry Point Marines return from Iraq

Sgt. Jason Thacker raised his 2-month-old baby over his head, kissed her tiny forehead, then cradled the child in his arms.

Until Friday morning, he had only seen pictures of his child on the Internet from his post in Iraq with the Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 3.

So for the Marine electrician, the chance to hold his infant daughter Jayde in his hands for the first time was a priceless and speechless moment shared by his wife, Shannon.

Thacker was one of about 80 Marines who returned home to Cherry Point after a seven-month deployment in Iraq.

A similar moment came for returning Gunnery Sgt. Dan Lawrence, who laid eyes on and held his 2-month-old baby boy, Damien, for the first time.

"It's great," Lawrence said as his wife, Donna, stood by.

 The commercial airliner carrying the service men and women home landed before dawn, but the families had to wait while the Marines stowed their gear at the air station.

Yovanna Aravalo, of East Rutherford, N.J., held a large banner welcoming home her son, Lance Cpl. Yezid Morales. Aravalo said her son had kept in contact during the deployment with daily e-mails and regular phone calls.

"I have just one son, so you can believe me when I say I'm crazy for my baby," she said.

Julian Perdue, 7, of Havelock, was waiting for his dad, Sgt. Blain Perdue, with his mother Jessica Perdue. Julian had an American flag and a poster and shirt that said "Welcome Home Daddy, I Missed You."

The deployment was tough for Jessica Perdue, who most realized her husband's absence "when I had to put a new washing machine in my house and when I had to put a basketball goal up."

Lance Cpl. Renee Rowe, of Havelock, waited for her husband, Lance Cpl. Jeremiah Rowe. while holding their 8-month-old daughter Jayden.

"I felt lost really," she said of her husband's absence. "It was hard but we got through it. This is our first child, so it was hard for him."

The sun had come up by the time two white buses rolled onto the flightline. Signs and flags started waving furiously as Marines got off the bus and were greeted with hugs and kisses from their relatives.

Cpl. Kyle Podjed was met by his mother, father and girlfriend, who had come down from Hershey, Pa.

"It's shocking," Podjed said. "You haven't seen them for six months, but it kind of feels like I never left."

"I wouldn't have missed this for anything," said mother Mary Podjed.

Staff Sgt. Joshua Bourgeois held his 6-year-old daughter Emma with one arm as the child laid her head on father's shoulder. Wife Stephanie stood by.

The New Bern man, who works on electrical systems for the EA-6B Prowler, said he plans to sleep, relax and spend time with his family.

"I'm happy. It's outstanding," Bourgeois said. "It's a great feeling, and it's good to be home."