A Soldiers Blog

USMC Lima Company Expected In ET Today After Duty In Iraq
By: By BILL JONES/Staff Writer
Source: The Greeneville Sun
10-09-2004
Members of a U.S. Marine Corps Reserve unit that includes a number of Greene County residents, apparently will return to Northeast Tennessee this afternoon or tonight aboard two separate flights.

But as of Friday night, the Marine Corps had not announced the exact timing of the unit’s return or of plans for welcoming ceremonies that are to be held at the Appalachian Fairgrounds in the Washington County community of Gray.

A Marine Corps spokesman at the Armed Forces Reserve Center in Gray, where Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 24th Marines, is based, said Friday afternoon that the young Marines are expected to be flown to Tri-Cities Regional Airport.

One flight, the spokesman said on Friday, was expected to arrive late this afternoon, while the second half of the 180-man unit is expected to arrive later tonight.

As a result of the unit taking separate flights, the spokesman said, two separate welcoming ceremonies will be held at the Appalachian Fairgrounds adjacent to the Armed Forces Reserve Center.

The first welcoming ceremony was being planned on Friday to begin about 6:30 p.m., while the second is expected to take place about 11 p.m., according to the Marine Corps spokesman.

However, the father of one local Lima Company Marine said on Friday evening that his son had told him not to come to the fairgrounds in Gray before 9:15 p.m. Saturday

Greene County Online