INDIANAPOLIS -
The drawdown of US troops from Afghanistan may continue, with a presidential promise to remove 3,300 troops by this summer.
But Indiana soldiers are still leaving for Afghanistan, including 70 Indiana National Guard soldiers who were sent off to war Sunday.
Goodbyes are never easy, especially when you know you won't see each other for a year. The soldiers from the 76th Infantry Brigade said goodbye to family and friends Sunday before leaving for several weeks of training that will eventually take them to Afghanistan.
Private Ashley Ryan may be 25 years old, but in her dad's eyes, "I'm very proud of her. She's my baby, so it's tough to do."
Sunday's departure ceremony was the second tough goodbye for Ryan, after leaving her two young children with her mom in North Carolina.
"It was the longest 12-hour drive of my life. My daughter will be seven and my son just turned one," Ryan said.
Sgt. 1st Class Angie Roman also said goodbye to two children.
"We've done it before with dad in 2007. He went to Iraq for a year," said Roman's son, Tynan.
This time, his mom has the deployment.
"We obviously still have a mission in Afghanistan and that's why we've been selected to go. That's what we're going to go do," Angie Roman said.
"We're gonna be teaming up with the Australians to form a brigade headquarters that will control and command a coalition brigade," said Col. Gerald Hadley.
It is estimated that 14,000 Indiana National Guard soldiers have gone overseas since 2001. Every time, every departure ceremony is difficult for the men and women who serve and for those who support from home.
The soldiers should be back in Indiana early next year.
