Soldiers gather for deployment

National Guard soldiers in Southeast Missouri and their families gathered Saturday for ceremonial goodbyes in a crowded A.C. Brase Arena Building in Cape Girardeau.

The private goodbyes will come before 3 a.m. Tuesday when the soldiers of the 1140th Engineer Battalion leave for up to 18 months of active duty, most of it expected to be in Iraq or elsewhere in the Middle East.

Beyond talk of duty and patriotism, families, friends and soldiers talked about their uncertain future. There were plenty of hugs and a few tears.

Separate ceremonies in Cape Girardeau and Sikeston marked the official deployment of soldiers in the National Guard battalion.

Two more ceremonies are set for today, at Perryville and Farmington, before the entire 500-member battalion under the command of Lt. Col. John Akers departs for Fort Riley, Kan., for a month or more additional training prior to deployment overseas.

A 15-member advance team will depart by bus from the Cape Girardeau Armory today. The rest of the battalion will leave by bus from armories in Cape Girardeau, Perryville, Sikeston and Farmington early Tuesday.

Eighty-five uniformed soldiers from the battalion's Headquarters Company participated in a noon ceremony Saturday at the A.C. Brase Arena Building. The ceremony drew about 400 spectators, including Brig. Gen. Dennis Shull, the adjutant general of the Missouri National Guard.

Later in the day, 90 soldiers from Company C participated in a similar ceremony at Sikeston High School.

Change of scenery

Rodger Brown, commander of the Cape Girardeau post of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, told the Guard members that once deployed overseas, they will view their duty as an honor and the American flag as "your personal possession."

Kyle Meadows, 18, of Cape Girardeau said he's ready to serve his country. Meadows, the youngest soldier in his company, joined the Guard as a 17-year-old high school student. Combat doesn't frighten him.

"I am going to put my trust and hope in God," he said as he and other soldiers visited with their families at the Cape Girardeau Armory following the ceremony.

Meadows' father, Steve, said he's proud of his son, but at the same time concerned for his safety.

Sgt. 1st Class Chad Craft, 33, of Jackson said there's an "excitement of the unknown" as he and his fellow soldiers prepare for active duty.

There's fear too.

"Ninety-nine percent of us have never been shot at," Craft said.

Craft worries about having to leave his wife and 1-year-old son.

"I'm scared for Chad. I'm scared for us," said his wife, Missy.

Chad Craft won't be home when his son, Caleb, turns 2 on Jan. 31. Missy Craft regrets that her husband won't be around for the celebration.

Watching television coverage of combat in Iraq will be more difficult now.

"I probably will watch less news," Missy Craft said.

Sue Edwards of Cape Girardeau is leaving behind her husband and two young children -- Brian, 5, and Stephanie, 3 -- to follow her nation's marching orders.

"I am a little nervous about going," said Edwards, a medic in the Guard. "I'm ready to get it over with, then get home to the kids."

Her husband, Rod, holds down several jobs, including delivering newspapers and working at a convenience store.

Rod Edwards said he's ready for extra parenting duties, and he won't shy away from images of Iraq on television.

"I want to see what is going on over there," he said.

mbliss@semissourian.com

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