Return to First Friday Briefing

Families say farewell to soldiers heading to Fort Stewart, then Iraq

Friday, January 7, 2005

By Ashley Fuller
Cherokee Tribune Staff Writer
Original Story at cherokeetribune.com

Family members said goodbye with teary eyes as the B-Company First Battalion 108th Armor Regiment of the 48th Mechanized Infantry Brigade, stationed in Canton, left for Fort Stewart on Thursday.

The 63-member Army National Guard unit, stationed at the National Guard Armory in Canton, will train at the fort in Savannah until being deployed to Iraq this summer. The deployment is scheduled to last 12 months.

For those who saw their loved ones off Thursday morning, the goodbyes were not easy.

"It is very hard, especially because it is my son going over there," said Sherry Jarrard of Ellijay, whose son Spec. Greg Stepp is part of the unit. "If it was a husband, I think I would be all right. But it is hard to see your son go."

Family members said keeping their faith strong would help them pass the time that their loved ones are gone.

"We are going to pray a lot," Ms. Jarrard said. "They will be all right. We are all proud of our sons."

A family support group has been formed to keep families informed about news concerning the unit.

Amanda Holloway, whose husband Dusty is stationed at Dobbins Air Reserve base, is serving as the family assistance coordinator for the unit.

"My husband has been on short deployments before, so I have some experience with this," she said. "Before, family members were kind of left in the dark as far as what was going on. Now, if they need a chaplain or something does happen, they can contact us and we can help. Our job is to keep them happy."

The morale of the soldiers is very high, said 1st Sgt. Delston Branch of Washington, Ga.

"They are looking forward to going over there and doing their job," he said. "Everyone here is a volunteer. They want to be here. It comes down to three words: duty, honor and country. We enjoy serving our country."

Branch said leaving behind families is hard on the soldiers.

"It was a somber day for everybody, but once we get back into a work regimen, it will get better," he said.

The unit is getting some help from Armor 4 Troops, a Woodstock-based nonprofit organization that provides soldiers with new and replacement body armor and other armor supplies.

The organization is providing the unit with Paulson triple lens, tactical combat fragmentation goggles, said Robert Ledee, president of the organization.

"We looked at what the soldiers needed and when you see a soldier, they don't always have goggles," Ledee said. "It would be hard on these soldiers if they came back and they couldn't see. We can protect their eyes."

Canton Mayor Cecil Pruett, Cherokee County Commission Chairman Mike Byrd and Commissioners Harry Johnston and Jim Hubbard were at the Armory to send off the troops.

For information about the unit or for family assistance, call (770) 720-3520, ext. 20.

afuller@cherokeetribune.com

Return to First Friday Briefing