Medical troops return from Cuba

Having served a six-month deployment in support of the Joint Task Force mission at Naval Hospital Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, about two-dozen Naval Hospital Jacksonville and Branch Health Clinic personnel returned to cheers, hugs and kisses.

Among those waiting for the plane's arrival were Brenda Rosado and her daughter, Nahir. They were nervously waiting for HM2 Marcos Rosado to arrive. He served an initial six months in Cuba and voluntarily extended for an additional five months. "Thank God they let him come home in July because he wasn't supposed to come back until August," remarked Brenda.

Lt. Cmdr. Sean McGrath enjoys a family moment as he returns from a six-month deployment in Cuba as he squeezes his daughter, Kristen's shoulders while she clicks a family photo. A shy 2-year-old, Michael clings to his mother, Imee's leg as the McGrathÕs daughter, Megan poses for the picture.

When HM2 Rosado entered the terminal, he was greeted with a big hug from 4-year-old Nahir who was carrying a large welcome home sign. "She is thinking about skates. Her dad said he was going to buy her skates," Brenda said.

While her husband was deployed, Brenda purchased a home for the family. "He doesn't even know where it is! They have started construction and have already put in the plumbing. We are going there when we leave the airport." she said.

Naval Hospital Jacksonville has a dual mission of providing care to service members, retirees and military families who live in the Jacksonville area or near one of its branch health clinics. It also has a readiness mission of providing health care to deployed warfighters around the globe. Currently almost 13 percent of the hospital staff is deployed in support of the global war on terror.