Suburban soldiers being deployed to get sendoff Saturday
They all have other day jobs, but the 130-plus soldiers in Company B, 1st Batallion, 178th Infantry know the drill by now.
So does Lisa Guerrero, the 10-year wife of Sgt. Jose Guerrero, who has been deployed to serve in Iraq and Germany before.
For the next year, the Grayslake woman and relatives of the other soldiers will feel a mixture of uncertainty, fear and confusion. But, but most of all, pride.
"It's definitely nerve wracking," she said. "These moms are worried, but they're just so proud of their kids who are willing to fight for their country. It brings a sense of pride not many can understand."
The company, whose members hail from all over the suburbs, this weekend will ship out for a one-year deployment to Afghanistan. But not before a large send-off and ceremony at 10 a.m. Saturday at Elgin Community College, 1700 Spartan Drive.
Their primary role will be escorting local leaders and protecting crews working to rebuild infrastructure and government buildings.
Another four dozen soldiers in Delta Company, who are part of the same infantry unit, will ship out of Woodstock this weekend.
Guerrero's 19-year-old son, Isaiah, is part of the Woodstock unit.
She leads the Family Readiness Group and will be collecting and sending care packages to the troops. To help, e-mail her at jfglag898@sbcglobal.net.
Staff Sgt. Curtis Stratton of Elgin went on a vacation with his wife, Rachel, before turning in his mail carrier uniform for camouflage.
Stratton has been sent to Germany and Louisiana for his National Guard service, but never into a combat situation.
"I'm curious because I haven't been over there," he said. "I haven't done it before and I've been training to do it for the last 10 years. The hardest part of deployment is leaving your family."
This also will be the first time in Afghanistan for Company 1st Sgt. Richard Winterfeld of Streamwood.
His son, Richard III, also is in Company B and already traveled to Fort Bragg in North Carolina where the soldiers will train for two more months before heading overseas.
The elder Winterfeld took a trip with his wife, Rhonda, and he's brushed up on his basic Arabic.
"(Rhonda's) been through deployments before. She handles them pretty well," he said. "It's nothing new for her."
Norman Bellows, commander of Elgin American Legion Post 57, said the post mailed a letter to the mayor of each of the 130-plus soldiers to invite them to the send-off.
Bellows said a show of support is important, as well as supporting soldiers' families in the next year.
"We want to let them know we're behind the group 100 percent," he said. "We're just there to help out and be available if families need help."
If you go
What: A deployment ceremony for the 130-plus soldiers of Company B, 1st Battalion, 178th Infantry of the Army National Guard before they are sent to Afghanistan for a year
When: 10 a.m. Saturday
Where: Spartan Events Center, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin Community College, Elgin
Who: Call (847) 741-3497