Saturday, April 14, 2001

By Mark Oliva, Stars and Stripes

OAK HARBOR, Wash. — Whidbey Island Naval Air Station officials will open the base’s gates Saturday for a homecoming ceremony for the 24-member crew of the EP-3E plane forced to make an emergency landing in China.

Access to the base will be unlimited. Local residents have been papering the town with yellow ribbons, balloons and welcome home signs. The ceremony will take place at a hangar along the runway.

"Because of the extended family we have between Oak Harbor and NAS Whidbey Island, we see this as sons and daughters returning to our community," said Patty Cohen, Oak Harbor mayor. "We’ve always been here for NAS Whidbey Island. They’ve been here for us."

Oak Harbor officials are planning a parade for the crew April 28, after they spend private time with their families.

Yellow ribbons are tied to fences, street signs and business fronts throughout the sleepy island town, a community whose livelihood is closely linked by the business of the air station. Adopt-a-road signs on the streets leading to the base display supporters ranging from first class petty officers’ associations to explosive ordnance disposal units here.

Navy Adm. Thomas Fargo, Pacific Fleet commander, is expected to lead a delegation of several flag officers and possibly senators and Congress members to welcome home the crew, base officials said. The crew was to leave Hawaii on Saturday.

Cohen said the base’s sailors take an active role within the community.

"They are coaching on our soccer fields," she said. "They are the deacons in our churches. NAS Whidbey Island’s presence here has driven up our quality of life."

Cohen said the crews’ arrival in Hawaii on Thursday was welcome news as it is the last step before they return home.

"There was a grateful prayer of thanksgiving," she said, "not just communitywide, but I think nationwide."

Deanna Buckles, the wife of a Navy recruiter here, said, "I think it’s a little scary (Oak Harbor) is getting so much attention. We’re such a small area. There’s only about 25,000 people in this town.

"We’re proud of the crew," she said. I think a lot of the time the military doesn’t get the attention they deserve, unless something like this happens."

For Marine Cpl. Michael Freeman, the stand-off brought the reality of danger home to him. His father retired from the Navy, after serving a career aboard EP-3 reconnaissance planes.

"Things like this make people more aware of what could happen," said Freeman, who is stationed on NAS Whidbey Island.

He too, looks forward to being among anticipated 10,000 welcoming the crew home. "It’s cool they’re coming home. The way they were treated was extraordinary. It surprised me actually, that they were unharmed."

Carl Gotcher is a retired sailor living in Oak Harbor. The 68-year-old former Navy flier said he was always on edge while flying over the South China Sea. He flew over Korea and Vietnam, completing 214 combat missions.

Gotcher predicted the entire community would turn out to greet the crewmembers. Local hotels are booked, and news crews are camped outside the base’s gate.

"I don’t think they (the crew) realize the concern that we had, especially here in Oak Harbor," Gotcher said. "There will be enough people there to let them know."

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