Troops return from Iraq Photo by Kathy Enzerink / Pamlico News A family-style welcome home greets this Marine when he arrived at Cherry Point Marine Air Station Thursday. He and nearly 200 Marines returned from a six-month tour of duty in Iraq. Photo Gallery Kathy Bohanan Enzerink Pamlico News Staff

Two hours seemed to last forever to friends and family members waiting in a Cherry Point Marine Corp Air Station airplane hangar Thursday afternoon. Thunderstorms and cloud to ground lightning delayed the arrival of MALS 14 and VMAQ troops returning from a six-month tour of duty in Iraq. They had been stationed at Al Asad Air Base in the Ambar Province of Iraq.

Clouds obscured the sun, temperatures had cooled and the asphalt was still damp when two white busses pulled up and swarms of tan colored Desert Utility uniforms poured out, searching for loved ones.

It was a flurry of outstretched arms, hugs, kisses and tears of joy. For those meeting friends and family, there was no hurry to search for their duffel bags.

Six infants, born since the troops were deployed, met their fathers for the first time. According to Ailish McDougall, an expectant mother, six babies are due in October.

For many this was not the first reunion as several of the troops have spent at least one tour of duty in Iraq prior to this one. Several wives indicated it probably would not be their last.

Thanks to Cpl. Charles McKelvey, my escort while at the Base. A Marine since 2005, he returned from Iraq in February.

Thank you, Mary Ann Martin, for making this possible.

-ke