aggienaut | Photo Essay: Return of HMLA-775 (Reply)

Lance Corporal Fricke (my younger brother,

frickeec) returned Monday morning from Iraq with the rest of Helicopter Marine Light Attack - 775 (HMLA-775). The 747 full of marines landed at March Airforce Base, where my mother was born, and the 167 returning members of HMLA-775 proceeded down to their home base at Camp Pendleton, from where they were released to disperse. The following is our retrieval mission in pictures.

4:16am - ETA was originally 4:00am, but word the night before was that they were delayed an hour, ETA therefore being 5:00am. As it turns out they actually didn't arrive until almost 10:00am, and for the whole five hours they were never announced to be more than an hour and a half from arrival! Anyway, the point is that we left at 4am and followed Eric's friend Monte (other car in the picture) to their friend Stacey's house, and then down to camp Pendleton (about I dunno half an hour south?).

6:21am - Myself, mother, & LCPL Thomas Brock. Thomas was in our boy scout troop so we've known him for ages.

Touching Moment of the Day: While recounting how one of their pilots was shot down and killed, despite his best attempts at playing it cool, Thomas (lcpl Brock) had to hold his hand in front of his eyes. His voice didn't waver or anything, but I guess his eyes were starting to tear up or something.

7:42am - Papa Fricke takes a stroll among the cobras, while some lady in pink rocks out in the background?

7:45am - Not as gorgeous as a Hind, but still pretty sweet.

Say hello to my little friend! [Remind me to insert a quote from lj's

giantlaser when the internet's back up.]

7:53am - This is probably parts of three pictures spliced together, part of the Biggest Panorama Ever which I put together from 14 pictures of helicopters. Here is another segment of it.

7:57am

8:05am - Never know when you'll need that pink camo.

8:44am - HMLA-775: The Gambling Coyotes! (in a cross-hair?)

9:03am - Its 9am and we've already been waiting around for five hours! Doesn't everyone look happy and excited?

Everyone lookin a little more lively. Notice Roger with his camera, two later pictures in this series were taken by him on that camera.

9:11am - The hanger doors finally open. Notice the honeybee balloons. Mum decided they would be a good way for us to distinguish ourselves, as we of course have beehives. All relevant males did their best not to be seen near the balloons.

Its the end of the world!!

9:52am - The busses have entered the airbase. Thats Eric's best friend Monte (AKA LCPL Peters) on the left. Apparently when they sounded revielle at 8am he was sleeping in the back of his car and instinctively panicked and looked for his uniform.

Is that soldier doing the "heil!"??

9:55am - First marines begin disembarking their busses.

Due to shutter delay on digital cameras I think I missed several priceless pictures around this time. Aside from that we just made contact with Eric at this point, I think I could add that (A) I think Monte is pointing at the female marine he has a huge crush on, and (B) who puts a Kobe Bryant jersey on their little girl, really??

9:56am - Eric & Stacy

9:57am - Eric & Stacy ... & Monte, as usual.

10:01am - Stacy is still a gazin at her hero. (=

10:13am - Then the unloaded everyone's pack and a Great Rummaging commenced as everyone searched for their own pack. Notice LCPL Fricke in the centre, and I think the guy scratching his head on the mid-left accurately sums up some of the confusion

10:20am - and a small child turns up among the packs?

and this guy already has a corona

hey she's not in uniform!

10:23am - still a-rummaging. Sorry for the multitude of pictures of the Great Rummage, I found the chaos picturesque.

10:28am - Peace! This is on our way out.

Immediately after returning home Eric jumped in the pool, without even taking off his boots. I wasn't there to photograph it myself though, because immediately after returning home I made a b-line for the bathroom.

Then the boy next door, Andrew, came by to show Eric HIS banner.

And now because Cox sucks and our internet is down and not expected to be up before 6am, I am going to go to bed and post this in the morning. -2:11am.