The rigors of military deployment sink in Wednesday for families of the 212th Transportation Company.
Jenny Brown, wife of Spc. Brad Brown, has plenty to keep her busy. A mother of three children, she's helping the local branch of HOOAH/Army Brats, a troop support organization, and trying not to think too much about her husband's upcoming year-long tour in Afghanistan.
"Reality's hit, it's like it's here," she said. "It's really just pushed me that I've got to step it up and step it up now. I've got to be strong, and I've got to do my part so that he can do his job and not worry about me."
The U.S. Army Reserve 212th Transportation Company left its Bonny Oaks Drive headquarters Wednesday morning headed to Camp Atterbury, Ind., for a final stage of training. From there, the soldiers will deploy directly to Afghanistan for a one-year tour.
The unit deployed to Iraq and Kuwait from April 2003 until April 2004.
When soldiers learned of the coming mission a year ago the far-off day didn't seem quite real, Spc. Brown said.
"The last few days have been the roughest, seeing all of the family and getting ready to say 'bye," he said.
The company has between 100 and 150 soldiers, but military officials hesitate to share exact numbers for security reasons. About one-third of the troops live in the Chattanooga area, others drive in from surrounding states to serve with the unit and still others have been attached to the 212th for this deployment.
MORNING GOODBYE
Before sunrise Wednesday, hundreds of family and friends gathered with their soldiers, waiting for buses to shuttle the troops to Camp Atterbury. In the darkness, children chased each other, some playing a scattered game of dodgeball in the grass in front of the unit's headquarters.
First Sgt. Brian Fulkerson pulled up short of a dodgeball toss as he walked through the field.
"I've got to get out of the crossfire," he laughed.
FAST FACTS* The U.S. Army Reserve 212th Transportation Company is a heavy truck company that is based in both Nashville and Chattanooga.* The unit contains between 150 and 200 soldiers; military officials are hesitant to give exact numbers for security reasons.* About one-third of 212th soldiers are from the Chattanooga area. The remaining troops are scattered from surrounding states and some from as far away as New Jersey and Minnesota.* The unit deployed to Iraq from April 2003 until April 2004.* Soldiers moved supplies over 1.7 million miles of roads during their first deployment and face a similar mission in different terrain in Afghanistan.* The 212th's only casualty during the Iraq deployment occurred when Sgt. Kenneth Harris Jr. of Charlotte, Tenn., was killed in a two-vehicle crash on Aug. 20, 2003.
The senior enlisted man for the unit, 1st Sgt. Fulkerson briefed the troops and families to be patient, noting that the soldiers won't be able to check e-mail each day.
Spc. Donald Sino flew from New Orleans on Monday to leave with the unit. His family gathered on Sunday for a farewell. This is his first combat tour and his girlfriend, Veronica Watts, worries.
"It was rough on Monday morning when she dropped me off," he said.
As the sun rose and buses rumbled into the area, the mood slowly shifted. Families huddled together a little tighter, children stopped their games and began trailing mom or dad around.
As troops loaded the buses, tears started to fall from many of those waving good-bye, stealing a handshake or a hug.
Some units have longer training periods immediately before deployment, and often families are allowed to visit just before departure for a long weekend period. But with an estimated three- to four-week window, the 212th soldiers will likely not have another chance to see family members before leaving.
Onlookers lined the road as buses pulled out. Some lingered, huddled quietly in small groups, wiping away tears or meeting others facing the same separation over the next year.
