Telling Thomas Bye & Watching Him As He Deploys

Sunday night we took Thomas and Ashley to Fleming’s for nice night of dining. The meal was wonderful and the atmosphere was excellent. We enjoyed a great night with them.

All of us at Fleming's

Monday morning I rode in to work with Thomas so I could spend a little time with him. We made it back home around noon and for the rest of the day Gina and I helped him to get ready for Tuesday morning. Gina sewed a name tag on for him and fried chicken tenders with homemade mashed potatoes for dinner. We didn’t stay too late since we were all leaving at 3:30 in the morning.

We were up at 1:30 and at Thomas & Ashley’s apartment at three o’clock. We arrived at Camp Pendleton at 5:30. We first watched Thomas load all of his gear in his humvee and then he went to his office to grab his remaining gear and load it too.

Thomas and I

Thomas with his Mom

Watching Thomas load his gear into the Humvee

We got our hugs and kisses in and said our goodbyes. We then waited for him to drive his humvee off.

Thomas waving from his Humvee

Thinking that we wouldn't see him anymore but then realized that there was a convoy of vehicles leaving for the Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC) loading area better know as Assault Craft Unit Five.  The same place Thomas was heading.

Entrance sign to ACU 5

We decided to follow them and to see if we could see him off. Well, low and behold not only were we able to see him off but we got to spend more time with him. We were treated to a very orchestrated show by the Navy & Marines. We got to spend more time with Thomas after watching the Marines line up all of their vehicles.

Thomas and his Humvee lined up

The LCAC ramp / loading area empty

(it wouldn't be like this for long)

During this time we watched the five LCACs that were deploying get moved down the ramp and into position for all of the Marine vehicles to be loaded on to them.

LCAC-33, Thomas's ride moving down the ramp

All five LCACs in position ready to load the Marines

Ashley, Thomas and I

Thomas telling Ashley bye

After more hugs & kisses we sadly watched Thomas walked to his humvee so it could be loaded on to LCAC-33. I commented to Thomas that it was weird watching him leave because it was always me leaving for deployments.  During my Navy career I made seven deployments and saying goodbye was never easy. Gina and I were very impressed as we watched the Sailors and Marines do their job.

The Marines lined up and moving toward the LCACs

Thomas backing onto the LCAC

Thomas and his Humvee all loaded and him standing on top

One final wave goodbye

While we waited we could see two warships on the horizon. These two ships, USS Green Bay and USS Boxer will be carrying the LCACs along with the Marines and their equipment to the Western Pacific and Indian Oceans. There is one other ship USS Comstock that is deploying with them. Here’s a link to a news article about their departure (article). At the present time Thomas is headed for Afghanistan. Once all the LCAC’s were loaded we watched all the loading ramps get raised and then one by one they proceeded out into the ocean.

LCAC-33 turning around

Still turning

Here she is on the water

LCAC-33 and 48 flying out to load onto the USS Green Bay

USS Green Bay waiting

As much as we will miss Thomas we know that it’s because of men and women like him that we are able to enjoy the freedoms we have in America. We pray for his and all the men and women going in harm's way today a safe return back to us and their families.  Gina and I would also like to thank everyone who has either commented, sent emails or mentioned him in your blog thanking Thomas for his service and for keeping him in your prayers until he returns.


About 20 minutes after we watched all of the LCACs depart we received a phone call from my dad that his brother, Uncle Jim had passed away.  We were stunned and in disbelief.  Uncle Jim was like a father to Gina and a Grandfather to our children.  He lived around the corner from us and he was always there for Gina and our children while I was serving in the Navy.  Gina and I ask that you keep Aunt Nell and Dale, their son along with our family in your prayers.


Gina & I hope everyone has a pleasant and wonderful day, enjoying what our Father has so graciously blessed us with.