Combat Center families cheer as the Marines and sailors with 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment march towards them at Del Valle Field Sept. 11, 2014. More than 200 Marines and sailors were reunited after six months in Afghanistan. They were from Headquarters and Support and Weapons Companies.

Photo by Cpl. Kate Seiler

The Boys are Back in Town

16 Sep 2014 | Cpl. Kate Seiler Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER --

Elements of 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment returned to a crowd of anxious family members of the Marines and sailors with Headquarters and Support and Weapons Companies on Sept. 11. More than 200 Marines and sailors marched towards their loved ones with immense intensity to finally see their families again.

Lee Hollingsworth, father of 1st Lt. John Hollingsworth, 2nd Platoon, Weapons Company was among the family members waiting for the return of their son.

“We are so proud of our son and are so grateful for all the Marines do for us,” said Hollingsworth.

While deployed to Afghanistan, the Marines and sailors conducted multiple missions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

The rest of 1st Battalion, 7th Marines are scheduled to redeploy throughout the month of October.