Jan 1, 2008 5:52 pm US/Central
Texas Air National Guard Members Head Overseas
FORT WORTH (CBS 11 / TXA 21) ―
Dozens of North Texans are starting their new year with a trip overseas. It's not a vacation, but rather their duty which calls.
Seven year old Zachary Bishop stood on the tarmac of the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base with his mom and had one last chance to say goodbye to his dad.
"And when he was on the plane I hugged him too," Zachary said.
Late Tuesday afternoon two C-130's took off from the naval air station joint reserve base in Fort Worth. The men and women onboard the planes have put their full-time jobs on hold in order to serve their country.
Despite the cold and wind, family and friends of the Texas Air National Guard 136th Airlift Wing showed up to say goodbye to 34 members of the unit. A total of 58 members of the unit are now overseas.
"It's exciting," said Col. Ken Wisian. "It's a chance to do the mission that we train for all the time."
As members of the Texas Air National Guard most of the group will spend the next six months supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
Most of the men and women of the wing have seen at least three tours of duty. But that doesn't include 1st Lt. Jim Harmon who is new to deployment. "I've got a wife and a 16-month-old daughter I'm leaving behind. My thoughts are definitely with them," he said.
The specific location of the service members is classified, but CBS 11 News learned members of the group will be in the Middle East.
While overseas, air crew, maintenance, and support personnel will help supply air support for troops on the ground.
Family members left behind know full well that their time apart from loved ones will be very difficult. "It's tough when your husband goes away but you know this is something that we knew they were getting into and it's just something that the families, we step up and we do what we can to take care of everybody here," said Kristie Buckler, wife of Lt. Col. John Buckler.
A small handful of those sent overseas Tuesday will be home in about 30 days, the remaining service members will spend the next six months apart from their loved ones.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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