NJ Guard Members Back From 11 Month Tour At Gitmo
By David Madden
CHERRY HILL, NJ (CBS) -- After 11 months providing security at the Guantanamo Bay Detention Facility, members of the New Jersey National Guard returned to their families at the local armory in Cherry Hill.
More than 120 men and women, members of the 328th Military Police Company, gave almost a year of their lives to the effort. Most didn't want to talk about the experience. They were just glad to be home.
Like Kevin Fernandez, of Williamstown, who shared a tear filled hug with his mom, and recalled how difficult it was to stay in touch.
"The internet was very I wouldn't say limited," Fernandez told KYW Newsradio. " You always had spots you could go to for WiFi, but the internet was super slow."
He plans to go back to work and his studies in occupational therapy.
"It was rough at times, very homesick but it was okay. Did what I had to do and now I'm home," says Sgt Diana DiPalma of Pitman, NJ.
There was no talk of politics or shutting Gitmo down.
David Moore from Middletown, Monmouth County is ready for put this behind him.
"It's going to be quite a change from where I've been for the last 11 months," Moore said, "But it'll be fine. I got my kids, so I'm happy."
Guard Brigadier General Steven Ferrari offered a piece of advice to the troops and their families. "The soldiers. They're creatures of habit. So they're going to come back home and they're going to expect everything to be the same. Well guess what? It's not."
He suggested troops and their loved ones exercise a little patience in the days ahead. But he reminded them the guard stands ready to assist in any readjustment to civilian life.
CBS 3's Cleve Bryan contributed to this report.