Emotions ran high during departure ceremonies Saturday eveningfor the Army Reserve’s 296th Transportation Company as soldiersleft their families for at least a year of service in the MiddleEast.

The approximately 200 men and women of the 296th left Brookhavenaround 6 p.m. Saturday for Fort Stewart, Ga., for mobilizationprocessing. From there they will go to Kuwait and link up with a25-soldier detachment that left in November. The mobilization ispart of Operation Enduring Freedom, the war on terrorism.

They will be briefed on their mission once they arrive inKuwait, said Capt. Howard Taylor, commanding officer of the296th.

Saturday’s ceremony was a marked departure from November’s whenthe detachment mobilized. That ceremony was held with soldiersmarching into the ceremonies in formation before a large crowd withvarious noted speakers addressing the unit. Laughter was abundantas friends and family wished the soldiers well.

In the meantime, however, the situation with Iraq has rapidlydeteriorated and the shadow of war looms more ominously.

Saturday’s departure lacked all the pomp and ceremony ofNovember’s departure because the entire unit was leaving. Soldiersspent most of the time at the armory with their families.

Although some kept good humor Saturday, the predominant emotiondisplayed was sadness as soldiers said farewell to their familiesand friends.

“When you hug your families today before you leave, I want youto shed some tears,” said District 92 Rep. Dr. Jim Barnett, amidsome laughter. “It’s nothing to be ashamed of. It’s normal.”

Sergeant First Class Willie Buckels said he felt a slight senseof deja vu. When the unit was called up for service in Kuwait 12years ago for Operations Desert Shield/Storm, Buckels wasthere.

“It don’t get no easier, but that’s our job,” he said. “We’ll dothe best we can for as long as we’re over there. Hopefully, thatwon’t be long.”

Colonel Benny Terrell, deputy chief of staff of the 412thEngineer Command of Vicksburg, made the soldiers of the 296th apromise.

“You take care of yourself, you take care of each other, and wewill take care of your family,” he said.

Soldiers were saddened to leave their families, but theirspirits were high as they talked of their mission.

Specialist Jason Pittman of Magnolia, who graduated basictraining last year, said he was ready. He had been disappointedwhen he wasn’t selected for the detachment.

“I’m pretty cool,” he said. “I’m looking forward to doing myjob. I was kind of upset we didn’t all leave the first time.”

His mother, Katherine Clayton, said she was worried but had puther trust in God.

“I’m all prayed up,” she said. “I’m leaving everything in Hishands.”

A tearful Courtney Rainey of McComb said she and her fiancee,Spec. Jeffrey McKenzie, has just become engaged and she was worriedabout him. The mobilization caused them to delay their weddingplans.

When asked whether a date had been set, she said, “not yet.After he comes back now, I guess.”

Taylor told the soldiers that they were no longer policemen,firefighters, cooks or whatever profession they had been employedin prior to the call to arms.

“From the time we got called up we became soldiers,” he said.”Look around you. You see all these people? Do you love them? Thisis why we’re going.”