Sep 30, 2008 6:28 pm US/Central
Citizen Soldiers Deploying To Afghanistan
ROBBINS, Ill. (CBS) ―
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Some 70 soldiers from the Illinois Army National Guard, who are deploying to Afghanistan, gathered in Robbins, Ill. to say goodbye to their loved ones.
CBS
A room in suburban Robbins held a whole lot of emotion today. It was filled with some 70 soldiers from the Illinois Army National Guard deploying to Afghanistan.
CBS 2's Kristyn Hartman reports that the people who are leaving are citizen soldiers. They could be your neighbor. They are someone's loved one. They are teachers, lawyers, co-workers, parents - and they've all made a commitment to serve the country.
The soldiers have their orders: they are heading to Afghanistan to mentor and train the Afghan National Army.
"We'll sit there with the Afghan army counterparts to train their soldiers so we can get out of that job in the future," said Lt. Col. Tim Bizoukas, Illinois Army Natl. Guard.
Bizoukas knows something about sacrifice. He has deployed twice already. Each time he does, he leaves behind a wife and daughters.
"We're the strength behind the guys," said Gina Bizoukas, wife. "We give them the support. They know they can do their job and not worry about their family."
The yearlong separation will be as tough for them as it is for him.
"I'm really gonna miss him," said Ashleigh Bizoukas, Tim's daughter. "I'm gonna write him a lot of letters."
Every other family in the room understands the proud and poignant moment go hand in hand.
"I go through it so people I love can be safe on our home soil," said Sgt. Ahyetoro Taylor, Illinois Army National Guard.
When asked how much she will miss Sgt. Taylor, her boyfriend, Michole Stricklin said, "I don't think we have words in the English language."
Where she didn't have the words, someone else found them.
"Bring 'em back home, Lord, safely - as only you can," someone said.
Every soldier CBS 2 spoke with says he's honored to serve. Repeat tours are not unusual. More than half the citizen soldiers in the Illinois Army National Guard have deployed before.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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