The reds and greens of holiday decorations were replaced with the black and yellow balloons representing the Yellow Jackets of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 138 Friday, as squadron personnel returned Dec. 23, just in time to celebrate Christmas with their families.
The squadron left last May for Iraq, marking only the second expeditionary deployment for a squadron of EA-18G Growlers.
For family members gathered at Haviland Hangar on Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, the squadron’s return was an unexpected gift.
“We did not expect them home for Christmas,” said Angie DeMonte, whose husband, Cmdr. Andrew DeMonte, is the squadron’s Executive Officer. “January or February was what we thought.”
DeMonte said she kept the news of her husband’s homecoming a secret from her three children — Araminta, 15, Jazzy, 13, and Nicky, 9 — until she was absolutely sure the squadron would be returning. As one might imagine, the kids were anxious to see their dad.
“Half the family is missing,” said Jazzy, who was already planning to go snowboarding with her dad.
“There were lots of times we set the table for five without thinking,” acknowledged DeMonte, who said her husband’s deployments seem to get harder for the children.
“To be honest, it does get harder the older they get, because now they realize what they’re missing,” she said.
For others, the homecoming was a welcome chance to reconnect and strengthen bonds. Mary Clarity was there with her daughters, 2-and-a-half-year-old Isla and 3-and-a-half-month-old Mae. She said her husband, Lt. Cmdr. Tom Clarity, had missed Mae’s birth, but had been able to come home for 10 days shortly after. Even though they hadn’t been together for several months, Clarity was philosophical about it.
“You can’t work your life around the Navy, because the Navy always changes your plans,” she laughed. “But for me, the last stage (of a deployment) is the hardest, because you know they’re coming home soon, and I’m not a patient person.”
Clarity good-naturedly predicted her husband would quickly get into a routine with baby Mae.
“I’m thinking he’ll get some night feedings coming his way,” she joked.
While it wasn’t the first deployment for Heather Bettis, who is married to Lt. Steven Bettis, it was the first as a mom. Her son, Blake, is 20-months old.
“The hardest part was probably being on call 24/7 as a mom,” she said. “Luckily, this little guy is pretty charming.”
Excitement grew as the hangar doors were opened and family members spilled onto the tarmac, hoping to catch a first glimpse of the squadron.
“I see ‘em! They’re over there — see ‘em?” called Nicky DeMonte as he jumped up and down.
Four planes (Cmdr. Tabb Stringer, VAQ-138’s Commanding Officer, had to stay behind for a minor repair but returned separately later) flew in formation over the hangar, then circled back for another fly-by, peeling off one at a time to make a landing approach.
Those flying skills served the Yellow Jackets well while on their first deployment in the Growler. In all, the squadron flew 785 missions with just over 1,800 flight hours, maintaining a 24/7 operations schedule in support of Operation New Dawn.
“It’s rewarding to know every flight was a combat flight,” Cmdr. Stringer said in a press release. “We’re very lucky, because regardless of what happens after Operation New Dawn, we know that we’ve made a difference protecting our troops.”
