Active Unit News

More goodbyes, more tears: About 1,000 soldiers say farewell to their families
By Kevin J. Dwyer Killeen Daily Herald
FORT HOOD — Tears flowed freely Friday afternoon, as soldiers deploying with Task Force Ironhorse said goodbye to their families before heading to Iraq to join other American forces already engaged in combat. Although there were some smiles and laughter, an overwhelming sense of sadness filled the air at the Raider Gym as the 1st Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment and the 704th Division Support Battalion said farewell. About 250 soldiers with the two units deployed Friday, joining an additional 750 soldiers who left the post earlier in the day. Since Thursday, about 1,500 4th Infantry Division soldiers with TF Ironhorse have deployed. Gloria Riggs made the eight-hour trip from Little Rock, Ark., to Fort Hood so she could be with her daughter, 2nd Lt. Vernita Riggs, before she deployed. "We're making a huge sacrifice today and I'm having a hard time keeping my emotions in," Gloria said. "I've got mixed emotions about it because I'm a Christian and don't believe in war. "But, at the same time, I share the same situation with everybody here who is sending their husbands and fathers over there." Along with her mother, 2nd Lt. Riggs' older and younger sisters, Katina and Charlene, and her nephew Terence Robinson, were on hand to say goodbye. "I'm proud of her and I know she can do this and come back and have a child of her own so I can be an auntie," Katina said. While this is her first deployment after six years of prior service, 2nd Lt. Riggs said she feels ready for the challenge. "It was a little stressful at first, but you have so many other soldiers around you who put their arms around you and help you out," Riggs said. As the clouds outside disappeared, shafts of light from the setting sun streamed into the gym. Standing in one of those shafts of light were Sgt. Antonio Alsobrooks and his girlfriend Pvt. 2 Toccarra Barker, who was cradling her 2-month old daughter, Kiyla. "It's been kind of hectic because we just found out he was leaving last night," Barker said. We had to try to make all the time we could today, but it worked out all right." Tucked safely away in his bags, Alsobrooks said, were a few reminders of the girls he is leaving behind. "I brought pictures of her and the baby, and the baby has a teddy bear I'm bringing along," Alsobrooks said. Throughout the weekend and into next week, the remainder of the 12,500 4th ID soldiers deploying with TF Ironhorse are scheduled to leave. The first task they will face once they arrive in southwest Asia will be to unload their equipment from the ships that have been carrying it since the end of January. It is this job, getting his unit's M1A2 Abrams tanks and Bradley Fighting Vehicles ready for the ongoing conflict, that occupied Staff Sgt. Joe Poisson's thoughts. "I'll be thinking about when my soldiers get there and how to get the stuff off the boats and ready to go," Poisson said. "I'm just double-checking myself to make sure I trained them right." While the emotion of the deployment was clear on the soldiers' faces, there was also a steely determination showing. "Time's due," Poisson said. "We've been sitting around a long time. You get bored and disgruntled sitting around. Now we're ready to rock." As TF Ironhorse continues its deployment, reports are coming from the Defense Department about the possible deployment of the 1st Cavalry Division. The 1st Cav received its deployment orders March 5, but has yet to begin moving its equipment out of Fort Hood. On Friday, defense officials said ships carrying the 1st Cav's equipment are expected to begin arriving in theater the first week of May. While both 1st Cav and post sources confirmed this is a possibility, they added the ships required to move the division's equipment are still in the Persian Gulf loaded with the 4th ID's gear. As a voice came over the public address system in the gym announcing just five minutes were left before the soldiers were to leave, the emotion became palpable. When the time came for the families to leave the gym, many waited outside on the steps for one final wave before they boarded buses for the trip to the manifest site and eventually Robert Gray Army Airfield. A small boy, about 3 or 4 years old, left the gym crying, "No! No! No!" Despite his mother's best attempts, he broke her grip once and tried to return. He was not comforted when all she could say was, "Daddy's got to stay." Contact Kevin J. Dwyer at kjdwyer@kdhnews.com