Soldiers begin year-long deployment

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Nearly 130 Indiana National Guard men and women were given a farewell sendoff Saturday before they began a year-long deployment to Afghanistan.

Hundreds of friends and family members packed into the Indian Creek High School gym for the departure ceremony for the 14-38th Transportation Company.     

Among the soldiers was Kyla Sampsel, 28, of Camby. It's her second tour overseas but her first time since she became a parent.

After the ceremony, she hugged her 2-year old son, Memphis.

"I don't want to leave him,” she said, tears welling up. “But I have to be strong. Don't we bub?”   

"You have to be proud of them,” said Sampsel’s mother, Pam Seip.  “Look what they're doing. I mean that's a good group of people, and (Kyla) isn’t the only one leaving a child."

Artis Thomas of Indianapolis was holding his 4-week old daughter, Brianna.

“I just hope she isn’t walking when I get back,” he joked.

“The nation has asked us to do a big job and we’re excited to do it,” said Captain Troy Forston. 

The unit will be hauling equipment across the country and doing other combat missions including convoy security.