MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif. -- Approximately 250 Marines and sailors deployed with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) arrived at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar early afternoon Aug. 15, after a six month deployment to the Western Pacific and Middle East Region.

When the formation of CH-46E Sea Knight and CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters flew by, the families of the Marines and sailors erupted in cheers as they crowded the front of the hangar, anxiously awaiting the arrival of their loved ones.

“I couldn’t sleep today,” said Evelyn Carranza, the mother of Lance Cpl. Jose Carranza, avionics electrician technician, Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 166, Marine Aircraft Group 16, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing. “I’ve been waiting so long for this moment. It’s the first time that my son has been gone for this long and I can’t wait for him to get back so I can spend as much time as possible with him and cook him all of his favorite foods.”

Carranza, who just turned 21 years old on Sunday, surprised his family by coming through the back door of the hangar, where he was immediately smothered by his two siblings and girlfriend.

“It feels great to be back home and with my family,” said Carranza, a Rialto, Calif., native. “Overall, it was a good first deployment and I really learned a lot over there.”

In addition to performing several aviation and amphibious operations, Carranza and the rest of the deployed Marines and sailors conducted sustainment training in both Townsville, Australia and in Kuwait, maintaining mission readiness throughout the deployment. 

After training in Kuwait, approximately 50 Marines from the MEU headed to the American Embassy in Doha, Qatar, in support of Exercise Eagle Resolve, a joint military exercise involving the members of the Embassy’s United States Liaison Office, Consular Section, Marine Security Guards, the Regional Security Office, and American citizens living in Doha.

During the simulated non-combatant evacuation exercise, the Marines escorted the American citizens to the CH-46s outside the Embassy. The exercise ensured the event of a real-life evacuation, the U.S. citizens would be safe and the Embassy would be ready.

“This was the first time in 13 years that I’ve ever experienced something like this,” said Maj. Kurt Strange, future operations officer, HMM-166. “This was a great morale booster for the younger enlisted aircrew. It also gave the American citizens a great feeling and everyone left feeling very appreciated.”

According to the Pineville, La., native, the MEU suffered zero fatalities or mishaps, and successfully completed all of their missions.

“We had a lot of odds stacked against us,” Strange said. “We had several new lieutenants and crew chiefs that just checked in during our pre-deployment training and had only nine months to train before our composite with the MEU, but in the end, we pulled it off.”

The Carranza family is just happy to have the Marines back home safely.

“I’m so thankful, not to just have my son back home safely, but all of the Marines,” said Carranza’s mother. “We’re all so very proud of each of them.”