Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

The 39th deploys

Family and friends gathered Saturday to see off more than 2,000 soldiers as the men and women were transferred to Camp Shelby, Miss., in preparation for deployment to Iraq. In Prescott, parents, spouses, children and friends of about 110 soldiers being deployed were on hand at the Tom B. Lee Jr. National Guard Armory.

The troops are slated to spend several weeks at Camp Shelby, Miss., before going to Iraq. Several family members and friends said they have been told the men and women will have a brief leave to visit family prior to the deployment.

Saturdays event was emotional and some said it was more so because many of those leaving have already done a tour of duty overseas. Some said children who had barely grasped the implications of the long separation at their first departure now knew exactly what to expect.

Tears flowed freely as families said their final farewells before soldiers boarded the three buses for the trip to Mississippi.

Anita Henry was on hand for her son, Jeremy Henry. Anita said its difficult to see her son go, but that feeling extends to all those headed to Iraq.

I dont want to see him go, Anita said. I dont want to see none of them go.

While the families gathered at the armory, friends and members of the community waited along the departure route. Accompanied by the Prescott Police Department, Nevada County Sheriffs Office, Prescott Fire Department and Nevada County Ambulance Service, the three buses made their way slowly through town while dozens waved flags and hoped for one last look at loved ones.

Juanita and Herman Hopson were stationed at the Nevada County Courthouse. Their grandson, Stephfon Terry, was among those being deployed and the Hopsons said theyd simply wanted to wave one more time.

At another point along the route, Gary Roe and Carl Ray waited for the process. While neither claimed kinship to any one soldier, both said they are grateful to them all.

Been there, done that, Ray said, referring to his own military service.

He said there was no gathering to see him off when he departed Prescott, but that he believes the show of support would have been appreciated by the men of his day.

Just because they didnt do it then doesnt mean I shouldnt do it now, he said.

Roe said he took time to participate because he understands the extent of the sacrifice being made.

Those guys have families, he said.

He said each of them have agreed to military service for a reason.

Theyre laying down their lives so that we can choose to stand outside with a flag. Whether or not I agree with the politics or the reason theyre going really doesnt matter.

A group from Shady Grove Church was also on hand and members said they simply wanted - at least in this small way - to show their support.

The departure from Prescott was one of seventeen on Saturday. Troops from El Dorado, Malvern, Little Rock and Benton were among others who left for Mississippi.

According to information from the National Guard, 10 additional departures are planned for this week. Those points of departure are Camden, Magnolia and Monticello on Jan. 8. Access to points of departure are limited to family members but communities are encouraged to gather along the departure routes as was the case this week in Prescott.