'We got the job done'

Image courtesy: U.S. Marines

Lt. Col. Cal Worth, left, had the 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division ready for action when President Obama ordered the Afghanistan troop surge in December 2009. After joining the military in 1991 and later serving as executive officer during an Iraq war deployment, the battalion commander prepared for perhaps his most difficult assignment. His Marines would be among the first to attack entrenched Taliban fighters in Marja, Afghanistan, as part of Operation Moshtarak.

Early Monday morning, after seven months of sacrifice and hard work, Lt. Col. Worth's battalion began returning to North Carolina's Camp Lejeune. News 14 Carolina reports that about 150 Marines and sailors were overjoyed as they were greeted by the warm embraces of loved ones.

"I can't describe the feeling," Lance Cpl. Jonathan Aguirre said. "It's the most amazing feeling I have ever felt in my entire life. It feels surreal to me."

As the local cable news channel notes, ten battalion servicemembers were killed during the deployment. One brave Marine killed in action was Cpl. Jonathan Porto, who was profiled in March by The Unknown Soldiers. His widow, Rachel Porto, has since become a leading advocate for Gold Star Families and won a 2010 MilBlog Award for her moving website, A Little Pink In A World Of Camo. I was at the award ceremony when an acceptance letter from Mrs. Porto was read, which deeply moved the audience.

Maj. Heath Henderson spoke with pride about his unit's accomplishments in Afghanistan, while also recognizing how the realities of war deeply affected his fellow Marines.

"It's always tough for a unit to lose brothers, and we lost some good Marines and sailors," Maj. Henderson told News 14. "They're professionals and they just drive on and get the job done."

For those of us who haven't served in combat zones, it's hard to understand the mixed emotions of reuniting with your family while also missing friends who didn't make it home. What's not difficult to grasp is how much we owe these returning volunteer warriors and their fallen comrades. We can start by simply saying thank you.