163rd Families Say Goodbye to Soldiers
By: Jaimie Weiss
Updated: January 3, 2008
Going overseas to fight a war for a year isnt only hard for the soldiers, but its just as difficult for their families.
They say when youre a soldier its like having a second family.
In a sea of 3,400 troops, preparing for a tour of duty in Iraq these Indiana soldiers have plenty of family by their sides.
"Its great. Im ecstatic about the group were going with,"says Private Jason Gibson with the 163rd.
But having a second family doesnt make leaving your first family to go to war any easier.
"I got a little son and wife and I hate to tell them goodbye," Specialist Jared Clapp.
The story is the same for every soldier.
I got married in September.
Including Staff Sargent 29 year old John Durham whos leaving his 3 month old marriage behind for the next year.
"Its not the easiest thing."
Its not easy for his parents to say their final goodbyes either.
"My son and I embraced we shed a tear. He assured me dad its not going to be that long," says Johns Dad Jim.
The comforting words can be difficult to believe when the national guard group is embarking on a very tough mission, but when Staff Sergeant Durham and all the others know they family to come back to, theyll do everything to get back safely.
The last few months soldiers have been working on individual training.
Tonight theyre on their way to Georgia to focus more on teamwork.
