A festive mood filled the arrival area where everyone was carrying leis, garlands, gifts, banners and streamers and huge smiles for the soldiers.
At 2:30 p.m., or one hour after the scheduled arrival, the chartered plane carrying the troops from Texas touched down at the airport and 60 soldiers were welcomed in a warm but brief ceremony in the arrival area.
Gov. Benigno R. Fitial welcomed the soldiers and commended them for their service to the country.
“I know you miss your families and we are glad to have you back,” he said.
“While you were away, you enjoyed the strong support of our local community. We are a proud, patriotic local community and we support our troops,” Fitial said.
He said it is his hope that 20 or 30 years from now, the peoples of Iraq and Afghanistan will enjoy the freedom the CNMI has.
“I hope that a generation from now, the world can look back and see success from your mission, and that the people in the Middle East can enjoy more democratic governments as a result of your efforts,” Fitial told the troops.
He urged everyone to continue praying for the safe return of other servicemembers in active duty.
Former Judge Ed Manibusan, who is the civilian aid to the Secretary of the Army, praised the troops for their “incredible sacrifices” in leaving their homes to serve their country.
Also present to welcome the troops were CNMI Congressman Gregorio C. Sablan, Chalan Kanoa Bishop Thomas A. Camacho, and other dignitaries.
‘Daddy’s home’
With a cellophane-wrapped package containing cans of beer, chocolates and other goodies, 16-year old Brandon Chargualaf waited for his father Noel Chargualaf.
Brandon Chargualaf is the middle child and has two other siblings.
“I’m so glad to have my father back from his second deployment to the Middle East,” he said.
Marian A. Sablan and her two children were among those who waited outside the airport.
“I’m waiting for my husband Joseph Sablan and I’m excited and overwhelmed,” she said.
It was her husband’s second deployment to the Middle East and their five-year old daughter Tessie Jo told the Variety she was “so glad to have my dad back.”
Six-year-old Clemen Kaipat Jr., his brothers Keoni, 8, and Kenneth, 5, waved miniature flags as they waited for their father.
Their mother, Kina Kaipat told the Variety that they had been disappointed by the delay but it was something they had to accept.
“If we have waited for over a year, what difference would a couple of days or an hour more of delay be?” she said.
Evelyn Deleon Guerrero said she was “ecstatic” to have her husband Sgt. Luis Deleon Guerrero back home.
“This is my husband’s second deployment, and I and our five children are just so glad to have him back home,” she said.
Marietta Sablan came all the way from the states where she’s working as a home healthcare nurse to meet her husband, Spc. Adrian P. Sablan, who just completed his first deployment to the Middle East.
“I arrived here last week just to be with my husband, but it will be a brief reunion for us because I will have to go back to work in California by next month,” she said.
Mrs. Sablan said their separation is not easy, and their three children have to be left on Saipan under the care of their relatives.
Priscilla Aguon said having three sons in the military is very hard.
“Every time the telephone rings, I always have this fear that it will be somebody telling me that something bad happened to one of my boys,” she said.
“This is very hard for me but I have to accept it because that’s what my boys want to do, and I’m proud they want to serve their country.”
Her husband Augustine said having their son back home from deployment was an “indescribable feeling of happiness.”
He said he always offers “very long prayers” to God every night for his children’s safety.
They were waiting for their eldest son, SSgt. John Aguon.
Cedric Aguon, their youngest son, is home for a brief rest and recreation.
Cedric Aguon said he is going back to Iraq at the end of the month.
His other brother is deployed to South Korea.
“I’m very excited to have my brother back home safely. As a soldier myself, I understand the happiness he must be feeling just to be back in one piece,” Cedric Aguon said.
He met his brother and the other CNMI soldiers in Kuwait for three hours a few months back.
“I’m just very happy to have them back, and we should be thankful we lost none of the soldiers this time,” he said.
While pushing his baggage-filled cart, Sgt. Ivan Ichiro said he can’t contain his joy of being home again.
“It feels great to see my family again after being away for a year,” he said.
For Sgt. Tom Blas, setting foot on Saipan soil means an end to the uneasiness, anxiety and loneliness he felt while being away from his family.
“But during the time we were away, we felt the unending support of the whole community through prayers, letters, calls and the feeling that the community is always with us,” Blas said.
Cause for delay
NMI Military Veterans Affairs Office Director Ruth Coleman said the the flight took seven instead of just six hours.
“Despite the three postponements and delays in the homecoming, it’s worth the wait for the families,” she said.
The troops were flown to the U.S. mainland on Aug. 13 after completing a one-year assignment in Kuwait.
