War is finally over for USS Hamilton crew

By Will Hoover
Advertiser Staff Writer

It was 7:43 a.m. when the USS Paul Hamilton slowly sailed into view yesterday and a tremendous roar erupted from the hundreds of flag-waving, banner-toting relatives, friends and well-wishers waiting at Pearl Harbor's Bravo Pier 23.

Mason Shaffner, 6, searches for his dad, ET1 James Shaffner, one of 330 sailors aboard the USS Paul Hamilton to return yesterday from the war in Iraq. The warship and its crew had been at sea since Aug. 2, 2002. Bruce Asato • The Honolulu Advertiser

Their patience was further tested in December after the Hamilton, en route to its home port at Pearl Harbor, made an unscheduled U-turn to support Operation Iraqi Freedom — where it gained the distinction of launching the most Tomahawk cruise missiles in the war.

By the time the Hamilton finally reached home yesterday, it had been part of one of the longest deployments since the Vietnam War. But for many, the most interminable wait of all was the 40 minutes between the time the Hamilton arrived and its 330 officers and sailors were able to disembark and join their loved ones.

Julia Fortenberry won the right to be the first woman across the gangplank to plant a smooch on her husband, Ensign Michael Fortenberry. The kiss was a half-minute doozy that delighted the crowd nearly as much as the sighting of the ship itself.

Fortenberry won the first-kiss privileges in a raffle sponsored by the ship's wives. Her winning strategy was simple: get the most tickets in the raffle box.

"Every time you went to an event you got another ticket," she explained. "You know, we'd do things like wrap Christmas gifts to raise money. So, I thought it was to my advantage to go to as many events as I could."

For her husband, the first-kiss prize was long overdue.

"The kiss is always great," he said. "But I don't know if I'm ever going to wait nine months again."

Teresa Page, 33, the woman who organized the big March 29 "Rally For Our Troops" event at the entrance of Ala Moana Beach Park, was already making plans to hold one last rally at the same location this Saturday.

Only there would be a couple of notable differences. One, this time the war is over. And, two, this time she will be accompanied by her husband, Petty Officer 2nd Class Daniel Page.

He was still aboard ship when he spotted his wife in the throng and motioned for her to move toward the stern. Moments later, the two were locked in each other arms. This smothering of smooches continued for a full three minutes.

"I made plans," said Teresa, after she finally took a breather. "Yes I did. Tonight, we're staying at the Waikiki Beachcomber."

Daniel wasn't objecting.

"I'm sticking with her plans," he said with a laugh. "It's excellent to be home. It's unbelievable. I'm ecstatic — that's all I can say."

Meanwhile, Je'neane Jones, 29, who is in the Navy Reserve, continued to wait for her husband, operations specialist Ralph Jones, 31. With her were the couple's two rambunctious boys, Xavier, 5 and Cassius, 3.

Jones and her husband met when they were stationed in Puerto Rico. In the past, she said, the waiting game had been reversed.

"I was on recall after Sept. 11 and I was sent to Millington, Tenn., to work on the mobilization unit there," she said. "He stayed with the kids. Now, it's my turn to take them."

Then, she added with a grin, "I don't want to say which is the toughest detail."

One young wife who waited patiently longer than most was Lina Ramone. She was sure she had caught a glimpse of her husband, Signalman 3rd Class Martin Ramone, as he looked down from the ship's bridge. Then, he disappeared. As other couple's were reunited, Lina remained on the pier, holding the couple's 9-month-old son, Idol.

"Martin saw Idol for the first 10 days and that was it," she said. "The last time Martin saw him he was 6 pounds. Now, he weighs 22 pounds. Martin is 21. I'm 22. We're nine months apart. We were high-school sweethearts in Del Rio, Texas."

As she watched other couples embrace, Ramone stood by herself, holding her son.

"I saw him earlier," she said. "He's up high, so maybe it's taking longer to get down."

One sailor tried to comfort her. He suggested that Martin may have disembarked on the brow at the other end of the 505-foot ship. He offered to hold Idol while she went to check. But just as Ramone looked toward the other end of the ship, her eyes suddenly lit.

"Here he comes ... here he comes!" she shouted, and raced over to greet him.

"I still don't believe it yet," Martin Ramone said moments later, as he hugged his wife and checked out his new son. "I would have recognized him. I would get pictures of him all the time. So, I knew what he looks like.

"It's good to be home."