KEOKUK, IOWA -- More than two dozen ceremonies took place today across Iowa as part of the National Guard's largest deployment since World War 2. They are among the nearly 3,000 Iowa National Guard members being deployed this summer. We were there as fifty-two of them said their good-byes to family and friends.
"We're going to Afghanistan. I don't think we're really sure which part of Afghanistan. We just know that's where we're going," said Sgt. Shane Woodside.
Laughter, tears, hugs, and kisses were all part of the day as the men of the 832nd Company said good-bye.
"There's lots of moms and dads. It's hard for everybody," said mom Sherri Witt.
"How are you feeling going into this...? Scared, mostly for family, what they're going to do while I'm gone," said Specialist Delbert Kemper.
They'll be gone until next August but family members say the men are as ready as they can be.
"They've trained hard, they've put in a lot of hours. They're ready to do this. They're really ready. Us at home aren't so ready for them to leave at all," said Witt.
And those at home had one last thing to say...
"God speed with them...," said Witt.
Soldiers also left from Algona, Boone, Eagle Grove, Mount Pleasant, and Storm Lake. They are first headed to Camp Shelby in Mississippi for more training. Then they'll go to California before traveling to Afghanistan in September.
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If you drove through Keokuk today, you probably noticed flags lining the streets. Those were, in fact, for the members of the 832nd Company.
More than 300 of them were placed on Main Street yesterday afternoon. Most of them were moved to Keokuk High School for the ceremony.
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