GUARDSMEN BACK FROM IRAQ CAKE, LEIS MARK RETURN.Byline: Kerry Cavanaugh Staff Writer Just in time for the holidays, two dozen Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, Air National Guardsmen arrived home at Point Mugu on Saturday after a year-long deployment in Northern California Northern California, sometimes referred to as NorCal, is the northern portion of the U.S. state of California. The region contains the San Francisco Bay Area, the state capital, Sacramento; as well as the substantial natural beauty of the redwood forests, the northern and Baghdad. Cheers and whistles drowned out Drowned Out is a 2002 documentary by Franny Armstrong about the controversial Sardar Sarovar Project. It closely follows a family that is unwilling to leave its village home as the water levels of the Narmada River, mostly because the government provides them no viable the Air Force Band playing ``Off We Go Into the Wild Blue Yonder'' as, one by one, the men and women stepped from the giant C-130 and into the arms of family, friends and fellow guardsmen. ``It's perfect coming home before Christmas,'' said Michael Cantu, a hospital security guard who lives in Whittier. He was met with roses and a homemade ``Welcome Home Daddy'' sign by his wife, Aracely, and their children Maya, 5, and Adam, 2. ``I kept telling my wife I'll be gone for a year, but I'll be home for Christmas. It feels good not to let her down.'' Still wearing their desert-tone camouflage, the reservists from the 146th Aerial Port Squadron An Air Force organization that operates and provides the functions assigned to aerial ports, including processing personnel and cargo, rigging for airdrop, packing parachutes, loading equipment, preparing air cargo and load plans, loading and securing aircraft, ejecting cargo for inflight were given cake, bright red leis and tiny American flags. Most importantly Adv. 1. most importantly - above and beyond all other consideration; "above all, you must be independent" above all, most especially , the citizen-soldiers were given a three-day pass from duty and the expectation that they will not be called up for active duty for a while. The 24 reservists departed from the same spot on Jan. 30, going to Travis Air Force Base Travis Air Force Base (IATA: SUU, ICAO: KSUU) is a United States Air Force air base in the San Francisco Bay Area of California. Travis Air Force Base is located within Fairfield, Calif, in the northeast part of town. in Vacaville for training before heading to Baghdad in June. The team spent three months at Baghdad International Airport Baghdad International Airport (IATA: SDA, ICAO: ORBI) (Arabic: مطار بغداد الدولي; formerly Saddam International Airport , helping to load cargo and passengers on and off planes. They lived in air-conditioned tents and worked 12-hour days, five days a week, rarely leaving the airport area. The temperature rarely dropped below 115 degrees. ``When you've gone without the comforts, it's just so nice to be home,'' said Daniel Martinez of Oxnard. While on deployment, Martinez was re-elected City Clerk In the United States, a City Clerk is an elected or appointed official who is responsible as the official keeper of the municipal records. In some places, the Clerk may be known as the "Village Clerk" or "Town Clerk". of Oxnard. He was running unopposed but still managed to run a campaign from the road. He'll be sworn in on Tuesday and will officially return to work Dec. 13. In the meantime Adv. 1. in the meantime - during the intervening time; "meanwhile I will not think about the problem"; "meantime he was attentive to his other interests"; "in the meantime the police were notified" meantime, meanwhile , Martinez looks forward to spending some time with his 10-year-old daughter. The group left Baghdad in September and has spent the past few months back at Travis Air Force Base, which allowed many to see their families before the big reunion Saturday. Several guardsmen said the living conditions living conditions npl → condiciones fpl de vida living conditions npl → conditions fpl de vie living conditions living in Baghdad are not as dire as sometimes portrayed in the news, though work was often fraught with fear. ``We were mortared, rocketed and shot at on a daily basis,'' said Charlie Dellecese, a Caltrans highway maintenance worker who lives in Lake Los Angeles. ``We got a lot of good experience. Everyone pulled together and the teamwork was awesome.'' Now back home, Dellecese said he's looking forward to sleeping in his own bed and spending time with friends, family and neighbors who were rooting for him while he was away. Brother-in-law Paul Stella said it was a nerve-racking few months with Dellecese in Baghdad, but they got through it with prayers and good wishes. ``We always tried to get the message to him that he had a lot of support back home.'' Kerry Cavanaugh, (818) 713-3746 kerry.cavanaugh(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): 2 photos Photo: (1) National Guardsman Tim Huntington of Temecula holds hands with his wife, Stacy, after returning home, above. (2) National Guardsman Scott Eaker of Santa Maria, left, is reunited with his son, Caleb, 3, after nearly a year in Iraq. Evan Yee/Staff Photographer |
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