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Families share tearful farewells as Seabees depart for Iraq
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Photos by Rob Varela / Star staff Seabee Deivis Carnieri holds his daughter Isabella, 6 months, as he kisses his wife Yvonna at Naval Base Ventura County in Port Hueneme on Monday. He and others in Naval Mobile Construction Battalion Three have spent the past 10 months getting advanced training and instruction in preparation for their deployment.
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More from Local NewsIn the last 10 minutes before he marched off to war, Deivis Carnieri didn't let go of his 6-month-old daughter, Isabella.
He didn't stop kissing her cheeks, whispering into her ears and hugging her close.
"I'm not going to see her take her first step," said Carnieri, a construction mechanic who shipped out Monday for a six-month tour of duty in Iraq's Anbar province with 200 other members of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion Three based at Port Hueneme.
The battalion, which has spent the past 10 months getting advanced construction training as well as weapons and combat instruction, is replacing another from Gulfport, Miss. The Seabees likely will do construction work at a Marine base. The battalion they're replacing also trained members of the Iraqi army in construction and mechanical work.
Like many of the men and women in his unit, Carnieri has been deployed before, and the early morning departure was mixed with anxiety, sadness and last-minute embraces.
Carnieri, who hopes to soon be promoted to petty officer, tried to lighten the mood by joking with his wife, Yvonna, saying maybe she could keep their baby girl from learning to walk until he got back.
Over the past few weeks, as his battalion's deployment loomed, the couple tried to cram in as much time together as they could.
The Navy has been "pretty good about not keeping us too busy lately," said Carnieri, a native of Brazil who recently became a U.S. citizen.
Lt. Cmdr. Kirk Lagerquist could relate. He has his own 3-month-old at home.
But while there was sadness Monday at leaving family behind, Lagerquist said, there was also anticipation and excitement about finally getting to test all the training the battalion had completed in the 10 months since its last deployment.
The men and women in his command seemed to agree. "I'm ready for whatever," Constructionman Steve Hahn said as he and some other Seabees took last drags on cigarettes before heading off for their flight. "I'm tired of waiting. It's been almost a year."
In his desert camouflage, Petty Officer Robert Trisby held his 2-year-old daughter, Tyrses, while his son, Tayshaun, 4, hugged his leg.
Although this was his third deployment, it's the first one in a combat zone, and the danger weighs a little more heavily on his wife, Yukino, said Trisby, who has been in the Navy for 16 years.
As he hugged his children, Yukino sat on a curb near the edge of the large blacktop on which the sailors assembled. Her children were both smiling, oblivious to the fact they wouldn't be seeing their father for half a year.
"They just don't really understand," she said.
Trisby said the sacrifice and risks are worth it. "We're doing something that's righteous — something you can feel good about," he said.
Posted by AnnaWhaat on April 8, 2008 at 6:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Our prayers are with all of you and your family's! Your our true heros! God Bless and be with each and everyone of you everyday!!!!
Posted by calgirlinky on April 8, 2008 at 7:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It is men and women like you folks that make this country proud! There are simply not enough words of thanks and praise that any of us "civilians" could ever give. Be safe and may God be with you.
Posted by christafrankmiller on April 8, 2008 at 8:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
GOD BLESS THE BEES OF NMCB3!! my husband is one of them and is already over there...please keep them in your thoughts and prayers! i so understand about it being hard to say goodbye to the kids- we have 5 under 9 yrs old and there is nothing more heartbreaking than to watch daddy have to say goodbye to his babies- a few that understand exactly whats going on and due to that cry about not wanting their daddy to die and a couple that dont have a clue and due to that daddy will have to start over at square one on their relationship when he gets home. this is just one of the many sacrifices that military families make over and over again for this nations freedom. i wish that the general public could see inside our lives...maybe there would be more appreciation...
anyway, God Bless the Seabees AND their families!!
Seabees Can Do!!
Posted by Equitable_Enforcer on April 8, 2008 at 8:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
May God bless and protect the Seabees of NMCB3. What our civilian public safety folks endure is tough, but it is nothing compared with the hardships endured by military and their families. Our family had it better then most during my Navy career, but our total separation while I was deployed amounted to an even 72 months --- or six years --- 30% of my career. It was worth it.
Posted by bella93030 on April 8, 2008 at 10:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
May God Bless you all and return you home safely! Thank you for all you do for us as Americans!
Posted by surfmedic91 on April 8, 2008 at 12:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Good luck to all of the NMCB units deploying. Now only if the Navy, Marines, and Air Force would make the in-country deployments 12 months to match that of the Army's 12-18 month tours.
Posted by christafrankmiller on April 8, 2008 at 1:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
no surfmedic- NOONE should have to have 12-18 mos tours...not even the army!! and the navy has tours that long if you go ia everything changes! the people enlisting in the army know what tours are going to be like and they still enlist. 12-18 mos is way too long for ANYONE to be over there in those conditions!! this shouldnt be a competition- were all in this together- my heart breaks for all of the troops and their families!
Posted by bcplus7 on April 8, 2008 at 2:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Surfmedic- why would you want any service branch do such long and lonely more months? I am a spouse to one of the ones that left and already I feel the sadness of missing my husband. I can barely do 6 months much more than 12-18 months! I think that the other services need to do 6 months or less time over in any area. They miss out on so much as it is with their families. It is still good to see that others support our military and families. It sure is a very hard road to endure. I am proud of my hero along with every other one that is doing their part for our Country. Please dont forget them and speak up when you see a family that is military. It is good to hear it from time to time. A Seabee Wife!
Posted by christafrankmiller on April 8, 2008 at 2:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
thank you bcplus7!! i second that!!
mine is over there and its only been a week, but it feels like forever! thank you to you and your family for your sacrifices and of course your husband!! you will be in our thoughts and prayers!! god bless you!!
Posted by surfmedic91 on April 8, 2008 at 4:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
No one should do the long tours but if the Army has to, why not all others? Maybe if the other branches were longer, then the Army's could be shorter. If you are a spouse and you or your spouse can't handle a 6 month deployment, then make a change and get out. Those speaking on behalf of their deployed loved ones, take this as a learning experience and a way to strengthen your relationship. Get used to it. We're not leaving the Middle East any time soon. Don't get down about it. Next time you see the protesters or a negative comment on a post, let them know how you feel.
Posted by mama_bee on April 9, 2008 at 11:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)
God be with NMCB3. I pray you all return safe and sound. Happy birthday to my NMCB3 son on April 9. I love & miss him, and I'm so very proud of his service!
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