Story by Cpl. Paul Basciano
Photo by Cpl. Paul Basciano Sgt. Timothy Willenborg, a vehicle commander with Alpha Company, 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, talks with his wife during the homecoming of Alpha and Headquarters Companies, 1st LAR Bn., at Camp Pendleton, Calif., Nov. 30. The 1st LAR Bn. returned after a seven-month deployment to Afghanistan.
MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – Alpha and Headquarters and Support Company, 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, returned to Camp Pendleton, Calif., Nov. 30, after a seven-month deployment to Afghanistan.
A bundled up crowd waited outside of a maintenance bay with cameras and signs at the ready. The group became excited as the rumbling of big motorcycles filled the morning air. When the motorcycles of the Patriot Riders passed, buses came into view, and the friends and family of 1st LAR Bn. got the first sight of their Marines.
More than a hundred Marines rushed off the busses to greet the waiting crowd. As Sgt. Timothy Willenborg, a vehicle commander with Alpha Company, 1st LAR, met his family, he was amazed to see his son.
“I haven’t seen my son in seven months,” said Willenborg. “I watched him grow on the internet, so it feels great to be back.”
Other Marines, like Sgt. John Pothos, a joint forward observer with Alpha Company, 1st LAR Bn., just wanted simple holiday time with his family.
“Its good timing to be home for the holidays,” said Pothos. “Its awesome to be back.”
Regardless of what the Marines do for their upcoming leave and the holidays, they can be certain that they accomplished a lot during their deployment.
The Marines of 1st LAR Bn. deployed to the southern region of Helmand province, where they supported International Security Assistance Force efforts by combating drug and weapon smuggling, as well as conducting counterinsurgency operations in support of Afghan national security forces and the government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.
After families and friends had greeted their Marines, they grabbed their bags and made their exits. Some Marines were eager to start their holiday plans. Other Marines are still making them.
It is so wonderful having my husband home! This was the homecoming of his 3rd and hopefully last deployment overseas! We are excited to have some quality family time over the holidays.
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