MEMPHIS, TN (abc24.com) - There were plenty of hugs and few dry eyes as 150 National Guard soldiers said their farewells.
Members of the 130th Military Police Company are being deployed to Afghanistan for a year. For many of them, saying goodbye isn't getting any easier.
As husbands said goodbye to wives and wives to husbands, the Browns said their farewells together. The newlyweds will have a honeymoon - of sorts - half a world away.
“He asked the question and I'm fully in love with him and I just said yes and here we are in the military together about to go to Afghanistan together,” said Private Rachel Brown.
It will be their first deployment. As military police, they provide law and order on military bases, escort convoys, and transport detainees.
Sgt. Tracy Yarbrough is also shipping out to Afghanistan, leaving her adult children behind, as well as her husband Ed.
“This is her second time going away. The first time our children were younger and that was harder but the boys are grown now,” said Ed Yarbrough.
But that doesn't make saying goodbye any easier, Sgt. Yarbrough said. "It never gets any easier. I miss every second I’m gone I miss being in my country. But it's such an honor to be able to serve my country, I feel so blessed to do it."
You would have been hard pressed to find anyone here who doesn't feel the same.
“Hey we're here to do a job. Got to get the job done,” said. Alvin Williams.
It's a job that calls for grief-filled goodbyes now and could possibly cost families later. It's a job that no matter how painful is still necessary.
The men and women of the 130th Military Police Company are headed to work.
