Ride Report for Ride Captain Dick Resh (seabee4)

Warriors Watch received a request from a proud dad, Scott Dence, to do an escort for his son, Anthony and fiancé Ashley Smith, who are Navy Seabees that returned recently from a seven-month tour in Afghanistan. They are stationed in Gulfport Mississippi. Anthony just attained the rank of petty officer third class utilitiesman. Primarily a plumber by trade. He attended Harry S Truman high school in  Levittown Pennsylvania graduating in 2009. He entered the United States Navy in the delayed entry program in June of 2010. After a year in the program, he went to basic training at Recruit Training Command Great Lakes Illinois. Upon completion of basic training, he went to Navy Seabee school at Sheppard Air Force Base in Wichita Falls Texas. Upon graduation, he received orders to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 11. Before reporting to MCB 11, he had to complete expeditionary combat skills at Naval Construction Training Center, Gulfport, Mississippi. In February 2012 he and Ashley deployed to camp Krutke at US Marine Corps Leatherneck Helmand Province Afghanistan. They returned to Gulfport Mississippi in September 2012.

Ashley Smith, and E3 as a builder, is a resident of Brant Michigan. She attended St. Charles High School graduating in 2004. See enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 2010. She went to basics training at recruit training command Great Lakes Illinois. Upon completion she went to Navy Seabees Builder A school at Naval Construction Training Ctr., Gulfport, Mississippi. Upon graduation, she received orders to MCB 11 also, and deployed the same time as Anthony to Afghanistan. In November of this year, Anthony proposed to Ashley. No date set.

A good-sized group of about 20 motorcycles and several cages arrived at fire Station 69 on Bartram Avenue along with Scott and his wife Marge. After a short briefing, two Philadelphia patrol cars, escorted us to terminal D where we were to meet Anthony and Ashley. William and Dan from Heroes Welcome were holding the big sign when they exited through the gate. Mom couldn’t wait to get her arms around her son and hugged him for quite a while. As we approach the escalator, he could hear the clapping and cheers of welcome home from the Warriors watch group awaiting him on the steps. Just beyond the base of the escalator Dan from Heroes Welcome presented the both of them with certificates of appreciation from their organization and a very grateful nation. After loading their luggage, four Philadelphia patrol cars escorted us up route 95 N. all the way to the Bristol exit where we picked up a Tulleytown fire truck along the way to the Appletree home. We did our typical mug and hug and presenting our honor coins to the soldiers, and then to Scott, a former Seabee, (equipment operator second class) and his father and his grandfather who were overwhelmed by the honor. Dutch then presented them with beads and explained the symbolism. After another mug and hug we got everyone together and posed for the traditional group shot.

Special thanks to Philadelphia Police for their super escort up 95, clearing all three lanes of traffic, and Tulleytown Fire Company for adding to the welcome home celebration.

Most important: Thank you to Anthony and Ashley for their service and dedication to preserving our freedom.

Respectfully submitted by RC Dick Resh (seabee4)