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Gowen soldiers headed to Afghanistan

In a formal ceremony at Gowen Field, friends and families said goodbye to more than two dozen soldiers as members of Idaho's National Guard aviation unit are deployed to Afghanistan.

BOISE - Sending off soldiers is nothing new for Idaho's Army National Guard but that doesn't make it any easier for those being sent or those being left behind. More than a half dozen times over the last decade they've held these ceremonies in a hangar out at Gowen Field. But this marks the first time they've sent a MEDEVAC unit like this, as the 1st of the 168th General Support Aviation Battalion deploys 32 of its members overseas.

"In many ways getting to the start line is the most difficult part of the deployment," said Lt. Col. Christopher Burt during the ceremony.

Getting to the start line for these flight crew paramedics, a unit which began with just three members a year ago, consisted of nine months of training to learn new medical skills and aircrew tasks aboard Blackhawk helicopters.

"This is a significant day in that the Idaho Army National Guard has never deployed a MEDEVAC unit," said Lt. Col. Granger Amthor. "This is first one to go."

Making Charlie Company a groundbreaker but the duty to save lives is still the same.

"I am fully confident that this unit that's with us here today will be highly effective in saving lives on the battlefield due to the time and effort that was contributed to building this organization over the last year," 2nd Lt. Morgan Hill said from the podium.

After a couple months at Fort Hood, Texas, the unit's ultimate destination will be somewhere in Afghanistan where they will spend the rest of their yearlong deployment assisting in Operation Freedom's Sentinel.

"Honestly, I am in awe of all of you and what you do," said Boise Mayor Dave Bieter. "At the risk of your own lives, you save lives and under what, I can imagine, can only be described as harrowing conditions.

But today's support and awe is also mixed with sadness. All will leave behind friends and family and for many the next time they hold their children they will be a year older and they will have missed so many milestones."

Moments Mayor Bieter knows will be just as hard for those back home.

"Please know that our nation, our state, and your home are profoundly proud of your loved ones and pray for their safe return to you," he says. "I know you will miss them dearly."

As they spent the last few moments with loved ones their Commander in Chief, Gov. Butch Otter, hopes these soldiers remember the famous words from a revolutionary patriot Thomas Paine.

"These are the times that try men's souls," said Gov. Otter. "The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink in the service of their country. But he that stands by it now, deserves the love and the thanks of every man and every woman."

Only three Blackhawk helicopters left today. The others will join them over the next few weeks. Their deployment will last a year giving medical support and evacuation for ground combat in Afghanistan.

Many of the leaders who spoke at Thursday's ceremony agreed, these soldiers' employers are also not to be forgotten for their sacrifice in allowing them to serve their country.

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