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(Democrat photo/Ron Kemp)
Specifically, the soldiers leaving on three buses on a supporter-lined Highway 67 are members of Company A, 2nd Battalion, 153rd Infantry -- part of the 39th. More than 100 soldiers left from Walnut Ridge, among numerous units of the 39th involved in the deployment from other points across Arkansas. Company A is headquartered in armories in Walnut Ridge and Rector.
In all, some 3,200 soldiers will be deployed, according to Maj. Craig Heathscott, public affairs officer for the 39th Brigade.
The soldiers are coming off a 10-day holiday leave and will be at Camp Shelby, near Hattiesburg, for about two months. They then will get a three or four-day pass before heading to Iraq. It is anticipated that family members will visit the soldiers in Mississippi during that pass period.
"About half of the 3,200 being deployed are combat veterans," Maj. Heathscott said, noting earlier service in Iraq by the 39th. The soldiers are on a 400-day deployment this time, according to Maj. Heathscott.
An unusual aspect of the training cycle this time is that the Arkansas soldiers were able to complete about two months of their exercises in-state, a departure from past policies. Maj. Heathscott, a Little Rock soldier who will be on the Iraq mission, said the training system has been successful and likely will be implemented by other National Guard units around the nation. He said the system has been good for morale, since soldiers are able to spend most nights and weekends with their families during the initial stages of training. "The families have really benefited from this training," he said.
The Mississippi training will be team-oriented, according the Maj. Heathscott, and will be the culmination of earlier training which has emphasized some 40 "warrior training tasks" for the 39th.
"The experience of these soldiers is very high," Maj. Heathscott said, "and their morale is very good as they begin the final stages of training."
One of the soldiers being deployed, PV2 Josh White of Rector, was spending some time with his wife Lindsey and eight-month-old son Clinton Levi prior to boarding the bus. Levi wasn't aware of it all, however, as he continued a sound sleep through all the proceedings.
White has been in the National Guard for two years and is prepared to take on the responsibilities of his deployment.
He said the training has been good so far. "I feel good about it," he said of the upcoming deployment. "I am just ready to get it over with."
"We are ready to go," said SPC Rickey J. Stanley of Rector. "Other than having to leave my family, I feel good about everything."
Among the other soldiers from this area deploying are a former Rectorite, PV2 Rodney Dees, and SSG Carl Finley of Marmaduke. Shipping out this week from Little Rock were Rector soldiers Terry Burdin and Dustin Grubb.
Capt. Benjamin Vincent, company commander, also was saying his goodbyes to his wife and young son. This will be the second Iraqi deployment for Capt. Vinson, who lives in Harrisburg.
"The home setting for our training was an amazing thing," Capt. Vincent said. He said all the soldiers appreciated being able to spend more time with their families than was normally the case.
The deployment in Iraq will be a convoy security mission, Capt. Vincent said. "The morale of the troops is very high. We have great community support and that makes it easier to do what we are about to do," Capt. Vincent said before boarding the bus for the eight-hour ride to Mississippi.
Friends, family and local school children lined Highway 67 on the cloudy and relatively warm morning as the bus caravan slowly moved away from the armory and on to points south. Many of those present waved small American flags and cameras were abundant as their husbands, fathers, brothers, sons, grandsons -- all heroes -- began their journey of sacrifice.