Large Turnout For Reserve Unit Headed For Iraq

    Families of 23 soldiers spent the most of this afternoon saying the things that matter the most to them. That's because the Army Reserve 591st Tranansportation Detachment will be gone for one year in Iraq. Landon Duncan won't see his dad on his first birthday. Landon turns one year old one month from yesterday.

    His dad will be finishing up his last training and just starting a mission in Iraq on his first birthday. Specialist Stacey Thomas said, "I'll miss him yeah, but this is what I signed up to do, he'll understand eventually once he gets a little older."

   Thomas' wife and Duncan's mother said, "It'll be hard the first birthday, and you know. He had his first Christmas. The second Christmas will be hard too, but we'll be fine." Specialist Thomas is just 20 himself. He said, "I'm a little nervous, it's going to be an experience of course, but I'll take advice from some of the other fellow soldiers that's already been there."

   His stepmother fought back tears. "So much pride but so much going to miss him. He's a good kid," Lisa Thomas said. Right before departure, the unit carried out a tradition of transporting its guidon or unit flag. The commander and another soldier carefully rolled it up around the pole it hangs from. Another officer explained the significance. "The casing of the guidon symbolizes their transition from citizen warriors to warrior citizens in their upcoming deployment to Iraq," Major LaRowe said.

    It remains cased until its unfurled in Iraq. Unit Commander First Leiutenant Matthew Roberts explained what the unit will do once in Iraq. "Our mission is a movement control mission and that is handling all of the logistics of where we're going, all of the inbound and outbound cargo." Congressman Zach Wamp spoke at the departure ceremony, "The better persons are standing right here. They volunteered to serve our country at this high level. They are the patriots of our time," Representative Wamp said.

  Before leaving, Thomas is promoted from private first class to specialist. And he leaves a supportive family behind in Ringgold, Georgia."It's going to be hard, but we'll get through it, we'll get through it," Specialist Thomas said.

     The 23 members of the 591st actually have a little bit more time to spend with loved ones. Their bus pulls out at 8:30 Tuesday morning. Then the go to Camp Atterbury, Indiana for up to a month of training.