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Key West's Seabees Come Home
Story Number: NNS030624-08
Release Date: 6/24/2003 10:28:00 AM
From Naval Air Station Key West Public Affairs
KEY WEST, Fla. (NNS) -- Naval Air Station (NAS) Key West, Fla., welcomed home 10 members of Construction Battalion Unit (CBU) 402 June 17, in a homecoming ceremony held on the airfield on Boca Chica.
Called upon to help Fleet Hospital (FH) 3, from Pensacola, Fla., build an Expeditionary Medical Facility (EMF) in southern Iraq, the Seabees had been stationed there since January as part of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. FH-3 is the first-ever Navy medical command to establish and build an EMF in a war zone.
"Homecoming ceremonies are among those moments in life which remind us that while events and situations occur thousands of miles across oceans and deserts, they can have enormous effects on us personally," said Capt. Lawrence Cotton, NAS Key West commanding officer. "Next door neighbors, our children's classmates and coworkers living with the fact that their loved one is in harm's way and may be called to make the ultimate sacrifice for our country, causes even those of us living in paradise to face the fact that the cost of freedom is very high indeed. We are all thankful that no one from CBU-402 had to answer such a call."
As the plane carrying the Seabees rolled up to the terminal, a roar went up from the crowd of more than 100 excited family members, friends and shipmates there to welcome the Sailors home.
"The very second we broke U.S. air space, I told the guys we were home," said Constructionman 1st Class (SCW) Jerry Lawrence, maintenance supervisor at CBU-402. Lawrence said what he missed the most were his wife and kids, but the outpouring of support from around the base was appreciated.
The Seabees stepped off the plane and were welcomed by NAS Key West Executive Officer Cmdr. Peter Fyles, Command Master Chief Dale Marteney and CBU-402 Officer-in-Charge Lt. j. g. Steven Legg.
Among the family members waiting in the crowd were Becky and Branden Lautar, wife and son of Engineering Aide 1st Class Lawrence Lautar. "I'm excited," Becky Lautar said. "I'm taking the rest of the week off." Lauter said she and her son only had sporadic contact with her husband while he was gone, the longest gap being three weeks.
"Over there, we couldn't talk a lot, but we got lots of cards from around the country. It was a taste of home," Lawrence said.
When the Seabees were dismissed from formation, the Lautars and Lawrences disappeared to the front of the crowd to properly welcome their Seabees home.
"To CBU-402 unit members who were not called to combat but instead remained behind to 'hold down the fort,' and support the families of your brothers and sisters in arms, I also offer my gratitude," added Cotton. "Regardless of the fact that one-third of your unit was deployed, you consistently stayed true to your 'can do' motto. Dealing with over a 30 percent shortage of personnel for almost six months is a daunting task, and you, too, deserve applause and accolades."
For related news, visit the Naval Air Station Key West Navy NewsStand page at www.news.navy.mil/local/nafkw.
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