Carol Ware appreciates the thousands of well-wishers who filled the Ford Center Saturday to honor about 800 members of the Oklahoma National Guard's 45th Fires Brigade that is deploying to Iraq.
But that doesn't make it any easier for the Anadarko woman, whose youngest son, Sgt. Lehman Ware Jr., is among those in the Enid-based brigade who are headed to the Middle East.
"This is nice, and I'm proud of him," Ware said, her eyes filling with tears and her voice cracking with emotion, "but it still hurts.
"It's really hard because he's my baby."
The soldiers, mostly part-time Guard members from southwest and northwest regions of the state, will depart next week for Fort Hood, Texas, where they will spend two to three months preparing mostly for convoy security missions in Iraq.
The soldiers, outfitted in their battle-dress uniforms, packed neatly into two sections of the arena as commanders and state dignitaries wished them a safe and speedy return.
"As I look out at this huge crowd, I can't help but feel proud of Oklahoma and our people and the mission of our soldiers," Gov. Brad Henry said. "You truly represent the very best of our state and our nation, and I salute you."
Henry said Oklahoma has sent a greater percentage of its National Guard units to Iraq than any other state.
"That is not by happenstance," Henry said. "It is a direct result of the grit, professionalism and highest standard of excellence that characterizes our Guard."
As the 45th Fires Brigade prepares for its deployment, more than 2,600 soldiers with the 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team are wrapping up the largest single deployment of Oklahoma National Guard troops since the Korean War. Those soldiers are scheduled to return to Oklahoma later this year after a yearlong deployment providing security at forward operating bases and internment facilities across Iraq.
Since Sept. 11, 2001, more than 5,000 Oklahoma Army National Guard soldiers and 4,000 members of the Oklahoma Air National Guard have been mobilized in support of Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom and Operation Noble Eagle, Guard officials reported.
Col. Glen Moore, commander of the 45th Infantry Brigade, said soldiers conducted several training exercises at Camp Gruber in northeast Oklahoma on weapons, lifesaver courses and other soldier skills to prepare for the deployment.
"This is our time to shine, and I know we won't disappoint," Moore said. "The Oklahoma Guard has a proud tradition of service to this country, and we want to uphold that tradition."
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press.
