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Engineering Company deployed to Afghanistan |
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Wednesday, 21 September 2011 15:37 |
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They're saying goodbye for one year leaving the hills of South Dakota for the hills of Afghanistan. 160 soldiers from the Army National Guard's 842nd Engineer Company will leave Friday for a one-year deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
Friends, family and even Gov. Dennis Daugaard gathered to give these men and women a proper sendoff. Black Hills FOX Reporter Zach Nugent has the story from Spearfish. For many of these men and women, deploying overseas is not new. 1st Lt. Arthur Morris says, "I deployed in 2003 with the battalion out of Sturgis. Went to Iraq, building refueling stations for convoys to go north in Iraq." However this deployment is different instead of leaving for Iraq, Morris will be leaving for Afghanistan. And unlike 2003, when Morris had to leave behind a fiance this time he'll be leaving behind a wife, a 3 year old son, and a baby on the way. Morris says, "Just leavin the family behind is the most difficult part for me, just leaving my son and my wife, miss them of course, I'm sure that's the same for my soldiers." Arthur's wife Jen says, "Just being apart, that's huge. Our three year old son, he's very close to his father, and it's just going to be really tough to see him not be able to be with his dad everyday, that'll be the hardest part." The same story could be seen throughout the crowd as young sons and daughters kept close, knowing they may not see mom or dad again for another year. For the Morris family, their new addition is expected to arrive in March and although Arthur may be thousands of miles away, serving overseas his heart will be with his family. Jen says, "It's going to be tough, we've never experienced this before, he was here with the first one, so I'm not sure what it's going to be like." Arthur says, "Try to get a Skype and e-mail and send letters as much as possible." In Spearfish, Zach Nugent Black Hills FOX News. |
