Home Sweet Homecoming : Families, Friends Greet Marines Returning to Tustin Base From Mogadishu

In the dry heat of the Santa Ana winds the second-grade class from Palmyra Elementary School waited patiently Monday morning. Sweaty but excited, the children lined up neatly, each clutching an American flag or a balloon.

When they saw the helicopters descend at the Tustin Marine Corps Helicopter Air Station, the 7- and 8-year-olds started screaming and clapping. Their pen pal, Gunnery Sgt. Mike Tullous, and 220 other Marines and sailors had finally come home.

After a six-month deployment in the Pacific and Indian oceans, the Marines of various helicopter squadrons returned from Mogadishu, where they assisted in the withdrawal of United Nations peacekeepers from Somalia early last month.

With video cameras poised, flowers and signs in hand, about 200 family members welcomed home loved ones gone since October.

This day was special to Peg Low’s second-grade class of Orange. Once a month they wrote to Tullous while he was abroad. Today they waved their flags and clutched a sign that read “Welcome Back Gunny,” as the helicopters touched down.

“In a way, the children have been around the world with (Tullous) because they have been corresponding with him,” said Low, who is the gunnery sergeant’s mother in-law. “They’ve been following him learning about the different countries, oceans and cultures.”

The children drew pictures and wrote Tullous every month. Tullous wrote back from every port he sailed into and sent the children souvenirs from Asia, Kuwait, Africa and even some paper pennies from China. Low’s 29 students learned the currency of each country that the Marines traveled to and studied maps to locate destinations.

“I learned (Tullous) fights for other countries to save their people,” said Jimmy Acuna, 8. “I wrote to him and told him that I missed him.”

In October, before Tullous was deployed, he went to Low’s class to explain his duties and take photos with the children. In his letters, Tullous encouraged the children to study and keep up with their schoolwork.

“I’ve learned that it’s good to be a hero because you are saving the United States and you’re giving up your life,” said Anna Early, 8.

Tullous brought final souvenirs from Hawaii, rainbow-colored pencils imprinted with “Aloha,” given to each child as he greeted them.

“I could always count on getting something from the children,” Tullous said. “There was never a dull moment for me while I was gone because the letters were good for comic relief.”

For wives, girlfriends, mothers and others with loved ones abroad, Monday morning was long anticipated.

“I didn’t sleep at all last night,” said Bettina Woodard, who greeted her husband Cpl. Ed Woodard with their two daughters. “It never changes each and every time, you cry all the way as they are landing in the helicopters.”

This is the third six-month period that Woodard has been separated from her husband. The family lives at El Toro Marine Corps Air Station.

“You learn to do things on your own, like fix the car,” Woodard said. “But it’s a relief when they get home because you give all the responsibilities back. Hopefully it will be a long time before he goes away again.”

For others, Monday’s homecoming was a first-time event.

Marine Jose Nunez, 22, was welcomed by a huge family, including his girlfriend, mother, sisters and cousins who traveled 10 hours by train from Planada in Merced County.

“This is the longest he’s been away. Next time we know to bring him pizza, beer and balloons when we greet him,” said Vanessa Uribe, a cousin of Nunez’s.

Amid the joyful tears, fathers cuddled sons and daughters and marveled at how much they had grown. Some had kept track through home videos sent by wives and girlfriends.

Like Maj. Timothy Devin. Devin was deployed for Somalia only a week after his son, Thomas, was born.

“I anticipated his arrival, it’s the only thing that makes the six months bearable, and you plan on it for a long time,” said his wife,Kirsty, who decorated the baby stroller in red, white and blue.

Maj. Devin, an administrative officer, said he hopes that this will be the last separation. He plans to enroll in naval war college in Paris and take his family with him.