A group of United States Marines are coming home after six long months in Japan.
With the holidays quickly approaching, many of the Marines are just eager to spend some long overdue quality time with their families. Others can’t wait to get back to doing regular life things, like going to In-N-Out and walking their dogs.
“I’m looking forward to getting back to the normalities of regular life back in the States and seeing my family and my girlfriend and spending time with them during Christmas,” Corporal Nordloh stated.
“I look forward to seeing my wife and taking her out to dinner,” Corporal Williams said.
He also is looking forward to driving. He said, “Having access to go anywhere you can just feels amazing.”
Corporal Serna stated, “Usually when I go home, I’m really excited to see my parents, but my mom is going to Mexico for Christmas, so I’m just hyped up to see my dad and my siblings. We usually make food and drink a few beers.”
Serna explained that usually he only goes home for Christmas and New Years because the flights are expensive and they don’t ever get enough time to fly out and come back on time for other holidays.
Even though Serna rarely gets to fly home, he said that it’s always a great time to see his family’s faces in person.
Corporal Paz said that he’s looking forward to seeing his wife and his two dogs when he gets back home.
Paz explained that usually he also looks forward to being around people who speak the same language as him and being able to eat at In-N-Out when he returns to the United States after deployment.
“Not to forget that I have no worries being back in the states,” stated Paz.
He explained, that where he lives in the United States he has no curfew, but with the Outside Continental United States (OCONUS) he has to be back at a certain time, so that no international incidents occur and make headlines.
They usually have to be back in their barracks by 10 p.m. or 12 a.m., so that they don’t cause trouble in town with bar fights or other reckless behavior. However, after they check-in at their barracks, they can still go out on base.
“Before joining the Marine Corps, I used to celebrate every holiday religiously with my family. As you grow older you really try your best, but being in the military it’s a little harder to do,” Paz stated.
Even though it’s hard to celebrate every holiday while serving in the military Paz said that he has never missed out on celebrating New Years because he likes to drink.
They’re all ready and excited to get back to their everyday lives and spending Christmas and New Years in the United States.
NOTE: I’m not sure why the picture looks blurry on here, I emailed it to Professor Harris.
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