"It’s a little harder, a little difficult now because my daughters have grown up," said Sgt. 1st Class Dedrick Clark, whose wife and three girls were there to see him off. "I’m more worried about them than I am about myself."
The Army reservists will spend time in Kuwait and Afghanistan and oversee equipment used in Operation Enduring Freedom.
"It’s just a very emotional time," said Clark’s wife Angela. "We just pray to know that he’ll be back safe to us."
The reservists loaded their gear onto coach buses at command headquarters in the pre-dawn hours Sunday before heading to Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.
"It’s a little bit worrisome, but we are here as a family and very strong," said Maj. Luis Rivera. His wife and four sons were there to send him off.
"I feel a lot of emotion, but I know he’s going to do something for our country," said Jacqueline Rivera.
How long the troops will stay in the Middle East has not yet been determined. They will spend approximately two weeks at Fort Dix in New Jersey before shipping out overseas.
