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FORT DOUGLAS — The 191st Combat Sustainment Support Battalion will deploy Monday, 14 months earlier than was expected.
The battalion of nearly 80 soldiers will first stop in Fort Hood for three months of training, then head to Kuwait. They will oversee logistics operations there, moving equipment and redistributing it, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Their deployment will last one year.
As is always the case with deployment, these soldiers face the difficulty of leaving their families, and their families face the challenge of living without them.
"We're definitely prepared and ready to go and do our job and do it well, said Army Maj. Patrick O'Leary. "But leaving the family is never easy."
A Mobilization and Farewell Ceremony held Sunday honored the soldiers.
"What stands before you is a national treasure," said Army Reserve Commander Lt. Gen. Jack Stultz. "It's our men and women in uniform."
Second Lt. Cole Landon has an 8-month-old son, and this is his first deployment. He says leaving his family is bittersweet, but his wife says he makes her proud.
"He's an amazing husband and I'll miss him," Stacey Landon said.
These emotional goodbyes will be captured in picture- perfect moments of families cherishing the last hours they have together, at least for awhil.
"We'll go home and do just quality family time," said Alexa O'Leary, wife of Patrick O'Leary. "We went to church as a family, which was a nice sendoff."
This is her husband's second deployment but the separation isn't any easier. He'll miss the holidays and some family milestones; The couple's twin boys turn 6-years-old tomorrow.
These soldiers will tell you they love their families. But they also deeply love their country.
"It's in my heart," O'Leary said. "I've been serving since 86 and this is it. This is where I want to be."
"You're looking at less than one percent of America right now, and they're all volunteers and they do this because they love their nation, they love their state and they love their communities," said 96th Sustainment Brigade Commander, Col. Phillip Jolly.
The soldiers were to return to Fort Douglas Monday morning to say their final goodbyes before heading to Texas.
