Marines back after tragic Afghanistan deployment

Marines back after tragic deployment
Yuma Sun
November 01, 2012
BY JAMES GILBERT

The Harrier squadron that lost its commanding officer and the aviation support unit that lost one of its fellow Marines in an insurgent attack on their base during a six-month deployment to Afghanistan both returned to Marine Corps Air Station Yuma Thursday afternoon to a tearful, hug-filled reunion with friends and family.

Approximately 88 members of Marine Attack Squadron 211 and Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 13 were greeted by relatives, loved ones and fellow Marines who had returned in late September, when they arrived outside the squadron's hangar.

Despite all the happy reunions, there was also a sense of sadness. While deployed, the squadron was touched by tragedy when Lt. Col. Christopher “Otis” Raible, VMA-211's commanding officer, and Sgt. Bradley Atwell, a Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 13 electronics technician, were killed in an insurgent attack on Camp Bastion on Sept. 14.
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