BACKGROUND

CLICK HERE to read Sgt. Tressler’s latest posts

Sgt. Steve Tressler Jr. of Lexington is the newest blogger for the Herald-Leader and Kentucky.com. Sgt. Tressler is part of the 138th Fires Brigade, a Kentucky Army National Guard unit based in Lexington. He will write letters home regularly during the unit’s year-long deployment to Iraq.

Here is the article that ran in the Herald-Leader when the unit left Lexington, as well as some photos from the departure ceremony (photos taken by Tricia Spaulding):

Photo above: Sgt. Daniel Warner and Command Sgt. Major Terry Cowan cased the 138th Fire Brigade’s colors at a departure ceremony at Keeneland on July 8, 2007. The colors will remain cased until the unit is brought back home.

NO GOODBYES BUT, ‘SEE YOU LATER’

LEXINGTON GUARD UNIT DEPLOYS TO IRAQ AS TRAINERS

(Published in the Lexington Herald-Leader on Monday, July 9, 2007 )

By Dariush Shafa
HERALD-LEADER STAFF WRITER

Though her son is leaving for Iraq, Gwen Blackburn isn’t saying goodbye.

“I don’t say ‘goodbye.’ I say ’see you later.’ I’ll see him again,” she said.

Her son, Sgt. Robert Blackburn, is one of 44 men and women being deployed with the Headquarters Company of the Kentucky National Guard’s 138th Fires Brigade, an artillery unit based in Lexington.

The 138th will head to Fort Sill in Oklahoma for training and then to Iraq to train the country’s security forces. The deployment is scheduled to last about a year.

For Robert Blackburn of Lexington, his first deployment to Iraq isn’t just an opportunity for him.

“I’m just happy to be finally doing my part,” Blackburn said. “It gives other troops the opportunity to come home and see their families.”

Leaving families, friends and other loved ones behind isn’t easy, but the troops know their families have a support network to rely on.

“You know you’ve got good people back here to take care of your family while you’re gone,” said Lt. Col. Tony Sims of Louisville, who was holding his 2-month-old daughter Olivia. “It makes our job a little easier.”

Memories and relationships help make the separation bearable, the troops said.

“Friends and family, that’s what helps you stay focused,” said Master Sgt. Michael Hayes of Lawrenceburg.

There’s still fear to deal with, but the soldiers aren’t the only ones being brave.

“We’re sad, but hopeful,” said Shauna Land, whose husband, Spec. William Land, is deploying to Iraq for the first time. “We’re scared, but in the long run we know we’re going to make it, and he’s coming home, and in the meantime we lean on God.”

Technology will help the Lands’ 2-year-old son, Connor, keep close to dad. William Land just sent off a photo of himself to be used on a “Daddy Doll,” a doll that will look like him, which he hopes will help his son feel that dad is close by.

“We’re trying to keep up with the technology,” he said. “We’ve got a Webcam and cell phones and we’re going to use phones and e-mail as much as we can.”

Staying safe and keeping one another safe is also on the soldiers’ minds.

Col. Bill West, commanding officer of the 138th, said he’s responsible for the safety of every soldier under his command.

“We always want to look out for the welfare of our soldiers and temper that with accomplishing our mission,” said West, who has been to Iraq once and Afghanistan twice. “We’re taking 44 over. We want to make sure we bring 44 back.”

Blackburn, who has been with the unit for six years, said it’s easy to be confident in his fellow soldiers.

“It’s a great unit. I’m in very good company when I’m with them,” he said. “I love them like my family.”

Land, who lives in Nicholasville, said his time in the National Guard has left him with a similar feeling.

“I’ve been in the Guard for eight years and I’ve been with all these guys the whole time,” Land said. “There’s not a finer group of guys and girls. We’re all just really there for each other.”

Meanwhile, the families will be eagerly awaiting the homecoming ceremony and the return of loved ones.

“I just want him to come back with the same mind-set that he went over with,” Gwen Blackburn said.

Top photo above: Specialist William Land and Lt. Col. Tony Sims talk babies after the 138th Fire Brigade deployment ceremony ended at Keeneland Sunday, July 8, 2007.

Middle photo: Staff Sgt Bill Ainsworth looked at his 3-week-old daughter, Piper at the send-off ceremony.

Bottom photo: Elizabeth Smith cries as her father’s unit, the 138th Fire Brigade, and their families sit through a deployment ceremony at Keeneland.