Some Kaneohe Marines
to come home soonThe commander of the 200 isle-based
soldiers in Iraq says they are due some rest
The commander of the 200 Kaneohe Marines deployed to Iraq hopes to send as many of them home as soon as possible.
Lt. Col. Mark Aycock, commander of the 1st Radio Battalion, told family members in an April 30 e-mail that "many of our operational requirements have been met, and those that are deployed in Iraq are beginning to get some well-deserved rest and showers."
Most of the Marines from Kaneohe are back in Kuwait.
"What this means for those currently deployed in terms of people and equipment is still unclear," Aycock wrote. "Rest assured, it is my plan to send as many Marines and sailors home as soon as their mission is completed."
As for 40 reservists from the 4th Force Reconnaissance Marines, Marine Corps Base Hawaii officials in Kaneohe said the reservists may remain in Iraq for at least another month.
"They were brought back to Kuwait and then redeployed to Iraq," a base spokesman said.
Aycock wrote the family members of the 1st Radio Battalion that he wished he "could give you a definitive answer, but honestly I don't know."
He said: "Some will come home earlier than others because of operational requirements; they are preparing to transfer to another unit in conjunction with a permanent change of station orders, or they are preparing to get under way again in support of another mission.
"There are some personnel who will return home for a month or two only to turn around and get on a ship or plane in order to support another deployment. These people are my top priority to get home because it is important that they get some well-deserved time with their family before the military calls for their services elsewhere."
Aycock said "the mail is flowing well," although it may take as long as eight weeks because there is so much destined for Iraq and Kuwait.
Both the 1st Radio Battalion and the 4th Force Reconnaissance Company left Oahu on Feb. 9.
The 1st Radio Battalion has worked with 2nd Radio Battalion from Camp Lejeune, N.C., to provide intelligence support to the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force. The Marine reservists from Hawaii and Nevada worked as part of Task Force Tarawa in Iraq.
Hawaii military links and information