USMC Lance Cpl. Krista Zielinski / photo courtesy Paul Zielinski

WILDWOOD CREST — Residents are invited to go to their doors Wed., Jan. 18 when they hear sirens blaring to welcome home Marine Lance Cpl. Krista Zielinski.

Zielinski, 21, is headed home after an eight-month tour of duty in Afghanistan.

“At some point Wednesday evening you may hear sirens outside your house,” said American Legion Post 184 Commander Harry Tweed. “If you do, please go to the door and wave.”

Zielinski arrived back in the United States Sun., Jan. 15. She has spent the last several days at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina being debriefed. She’ll hop in a car at 8:30 a.m. on the 18th to begin the long drive home.

“She talked about flying up, but she said she had enough flying,” said her father, Paul Zielinski, a member of the Wildwood Police Department. He explained that between time in the air as well as flight delays, it took his daughter four days to get from her base in Afghanistan to Camp Lejeune.

Paul Zielinski, his wife Rose, and their 11-year-old son Andrew drove to North Carolina to see Krista.

According to Tweed, Zielinski will be given a hero’s welcome. She will be escorted by various fire departments, rescue squads and veterans’ units as she enters the borough.

Zielinski, a 2008 graduate of Cape May County Technical School, joined the Marine Corps in January 2010. According to her father, his daughter was working as an assistant manager at Super Cuts in Rio Grande and attending Atlantic Cape Community College when she decided to enlist.

“I was in the Marines,” said Paul Zielinski, “but I never thought she would join.”

The proud father explained that his daughter graduated from boot camp in August 2010, was sent to her specialty school in September, graduated in December, and found herself leaving for Afghanistan in May 2011. She was assigned to the HLMA 269, an aviation division.

While in Afghanistan, Zielinski was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal for exceptional service and duty, said her father.

With her first tour of duty behind her, Zielinski is looking forward to her leave time and spending it with family and friends.
“I’m looking forward to spending time with her,” said her father. “And going fishing…weather permitting.”

“We all salute Krista for a job well-done,” said Tweed. “We are very glad to have her home. She’s a little tiny girl,” he added. “And she joined the Marines on her own and fought for her country. In my eyes, she’s a real hero.”