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Tears, hugs, prayers and good-byes flowed freely Thursday morning as family and friends bid their loved ones from the South Carolina Army National Guard 218th Brigade Company B/163rd Battalion farewell and Godspeed for the unit's historic deployment.
Cars, some draped with American flags, lined Stonewall Jackson Boulevard as well-wishers perched on top of vehicles waved Old Glory.
A roll call of the approximate 90 soldiers was announced and as each name was called noticeable tears and sobs rolled down the faces of those in attendance. The deployment is the largest the unit has seen since World War II.
"Don't forget to write! Email me! I love you" were among the words shouted from family as each soldier boarded the bus.
When words were not enough, hand-held signs let the soldiers know where the sentiments were.
* "Company B soldiers, we love you and we will miss you."
* "May God speed your return home. We love you and will think of you always."
* Another held by a pint-sized child letting her daddy know, "We love you daddy, our hero."
Prior to the departure, soldiers, their family members and close friends packed into a standing-room-only patriotically decorated National Guard Armory on Stonewall Jackson Boulevard cherishing the last few moments with their departing loved ones.
Amid the red, white and blue balloons stenciled with the single word, "Liberty," Sgt. First Class Wessinger and his family shared a meal together before the final good-byes.
"The roughest part is going and knowing the stress that it will put on my wife and kids," said Wessinger, father of three boys ages 9, 7 and 5. "It puts a hardship on me just being away. You don't really realize how long a year is."
For Wessinger, it will be the second tour of duty to the Middle East. Wessinger spent about a year in Iraq from 2004 to 2005 working as a signalman in radio communications.
"As a soldier, you are always excited about going somewhere new, but I think what we are doing over there is a good thing," Wessinger said. "I feel positive about our mission. It is well worth it. We need to help the Afghani people become self-sufficient, but it will take time. They want freedoms like we do ... for the security of their families and their kids."
Wessinger, along with the rest of Company B, will be deployed to Afghanistan as part of Task Force Phoenix. The entire tour of duty is expected to be 18 months, which includes preliminary training before arrival in Afghanistan and debriefing.
Soldiers will depart for two months of training to Camp Shelby, Miss., before heading to Afghanistan in April for a yearlong deployment to a base outside of Kabul.
Task Force Phoenix is charged with conducting the training of the Afghan National Army and the Afghan National Police. It reports through the NATO chain of command, which formally took full responsibility for Afghanistan in October 2006.
The Orangeburg unit, along with Walterboro, Darlington/Florence and Hampton of the 163rd Battalion, joined about 1,800 men and women of the 218th across the state to deploy. The deployment is considered the largest in the history of the South Carolina National Guard.
Wessinger said, while he understands his military role, there are always fears and concerns when entering battle.
"There are a lot of unknowns in the situation we are going into" he said. "But you have to have faith and do your job to the best ability you are trained to do."
Nine-year old Wessinger explained his thoughts simply.
"I don't want him to go because I will miss him a lot, but I know it is right because it will save the Afghanistan people and it will keep all the bad people away from our country," he said, explaining that while his dad is away he will continue to be strong. "I am just trying to live my life and not to be afraid that he's gone."
Mom Wessinger said as the wife of a soldier she has learned how to balance and manage her schedule when her husband is away, whether it be soccer, homework or cooking dinner.
"I think there is a need there but I don't necessarily like it for my family, but I understand it," she said.
One concern for Wessinger is the communication capabilities available in Afghanistan. She said when her husband was deployed in Iraq, communications were available.
"It is extremely beneficial for myself and for my boys to talk to him every day and to know that he is available," she said. "Knowing that he is available alleviated a lot of tension and a lot of problems."
Prior to the departure, a formal ceremony was held with Orangeburg Mayor Paul Miller; Peyton White, marketing director of Longwood Plantation and Magnolia Place, and John A. Shuler, deputy adjutant for state operations of the South Carolina National Guard offering brief comments.
White presented the departing soldiers a card signed by the residents, letting the soldiers know of their thoughts and prayers.
"The senior men (at the Plantation) are veterans and the women are veteran spouses," White said. "They know what it is like to leave your family and go. They went to World War II and the Korean War."
"My prayer is that each and every one of you return back safe to Orangeburg and when you return that you will have a bigger welcome party as the send-off party today," Miller said. "A deployment ceremony is as important for the men and women going as it is for the families being left behind because a part of their life is gone. The community needs to support the loved ones that are here."
E5 Sgt. Tilley, a 21-year veteran of the South Carolina National Guard and father of two children, will be making his second tour of duty into Afghanistan. He spent 18 months in the country two years ago as part of Operation Phoenix 3.
"I look forward to it because I know what to expect," Tilley said. "I can share my thoughts with the younger soldiers and the older ones to let them know what to expect."
Tilley said with a larger contingency from the unit and the state going to Afghanistan, the apprehension of going to a foreign country will dissipate.
"There will be more togetherness and family," he said, explaining that one of the things he will most miss is his family and the United States. "I am glad to have the company with me this time."
When asked about any fears of what may happen, Tilley simply said, "I am gungho. I will be all right. I know what to do."
For 20-year National Guard veteran Sgt. First Class Jones, the trip to the Middle East will be his longest tour of duty.
"It will be an amazing trip," Jones said. "It is a job and I signed on the dotted line that I will serve my country. My family has been very supportive. They understand what I have to do."
Jones' 18-year-old son, Brian, acknowledged his own concerns.
"I am scared for him, but he is doing something for our country," he said. "He has not gone yet and I am already ready for him to come back."
Brian said what he will miss the most is talking to his dad daily and getting the manly advice he has grown to love.
Elaine Johnson, mother of the late Spec. Darius T. Jennings and frequent outspoken war critic, bid farewell to her five cousins, all of whom were being deployed.
"Now it has hit even closer to home," she said. "It is time now for us to get up and speak out. In Orangeburg it is time for us to stand up and unite together and support our soldiers but to stop funding for this illegal war."
At the request of the National Guard, for security reasons, The Times and Democrat did not provide the first names of the soldiers for this report.
The Lord's Prayer for military spouses
Lord, Grant me the greatness of heart to see, The difference in duty and his love for me.
Give me the understanding to know, that when duty calls he must go.
Give me a task to do each day, to fill the time when he is away.
And Lord when duty is far away, please protect him, this I pray.