'Pride of the Pacific' returns home 

The service members arrived here by landing craft from the amphibious assault ships Bonhomme Richard, Rushmore and Cleveland, off the coast and boarded buses that shuttled them to barbecues and reunions around the base.

A celebration held at Camp Del Mar had everything from decorated signs, tents, chairs, and a bouncy house to entertain everyone big and small.

"I'm excited and anxious for my husband to come home," said Jana Fowler, wife of Cpl. Tom Fowler an administrative clerk with the 11th MEU command element. "I'm looking forward to giving him a hug."

Dawn Jones, the unit’s family readiness officer, also helped prepare for the celebration.

"It was nice because the families were able to come and meet their member," Jones said. "It’s nice to see a lot of smiling faces.”

As the MEU members arrived in buses and cars to the celebration, family members and friends waited anxiously holding signs and gripping cameras as they waited for their loved one to walk on to the parade deck.

Joyous laughter, hugs and tears greeted the service members as they crossed toward the event, camera flashes followed as some gathered for group photos.

Everyone deployed performed superbly, according to Col. Gregg Olson, the unit’s commanding officer. The Marines and sailors left not knowing what to expect, but all of them in some way were a part of something important.

“It feels great (returning) whether it’s the first time back or the eighth time,” said Olson. “Every Marine and Sailor returned home safe.”

The deployment covered most of the holiday season where families usually come together.

“We were away at the time of the year most people gather with their family, we were with the MEU family, but not with the family we would normally gather with,” Olson said.

“But the family here at home, they were thinking about us, worrying about us as we did something important for the country.”