FROM STAFF REPORTS

PALMDALE — More than 30 National Guardsmen said goodbye to their friends and family Thursday before leaving on an extended training mission — the first part of their tour of duty in Iraq.

“I’m torn up, but I’ve got to stay strong for my kids and for my husband,” said Sarah Price, of Victorville, who kissed her husband Spc. Devin Price before leaving the National Guard Armory in Palmdale.

The men will complete a one-month training program at Camp Roberts and return for four days in mid-August before being shipped to Iraq.

For most families, Thursday marked the first day of learning to adjust to being without their patriarch for the next 12 to 14 months.

Sarah Price expects the brief return of her husband in August to be 10 times worse than saying goodbye Thursday.

“It will be like a little teaser,” Sarah Price said.

She says the worst part will be the kids missing their father, especially her 2-year-old son Logan, who she says is attached to his father like no other.

It will be the first trip to Iraq for Devin Price, who said he is a little nervous, but knows it’s got to be done.

“I feel honored to go over there,” Devin Price said. “It’s my time and I’m proud to be doing it.”

While he is away, his wife will be playing home videos for their three children so they can see their father and hear his voice.

One of the hardest things for Devin Price will be missing some of the most important moments in the life of his 8-month-old baby girl Paige, such as her first steps.

She just started crawling and already knows how to say “mommy” and “daddy,” said Devin Price.

Roughly 200 local National Guard soldiers left for training Thursday at locations throughout the county. They are part of 900 troops throughout the Inland Empire that are expected to handle convoy protection near Saddam Hussein’s hometown of Tikrit, Iraq.

Staff Sgt. Kevin Scott left his job as a recruiter and volunteered to rejoin the unit.

“You shouldn’t ask someone to do something that you’re not willing to do yourself,” Scott said. “I’m happy to be back in a tank unit and away from the paperwork.”

Michelle Briscoe, of Hesperia, dropped off her husband, Sgt. Larry Briscoe, in San Bernardino on Thursday morning for what will be his second tour of duty in Iraq.

“It never gets easier,” Michelle Briscoe said. “But we march along with our soldier.”

Now that their four kids are older, Michelle Briscoe said her husband will miss more events such as football games and his daughter’s high school graduation.

Nicole Trozzi said her husband, Pfc. Vernon Trozzi, is more nervous about leaving his family, which includes four children, than being in a war zone.

Overall, the men seemed in good spirits as they were being briefed about training, and their families were sad but supportive of the men’s cause.
“Freedom doesn’t come free. I’m proud to have my husband serving our country,” Sarah Price said. “God will take care of us. He always does.”