WILKES-BARRE - Sgt. Phil Losito's sad-faced daughters each leaned on a shoulder, while his son wrapped his little arms around Dad's right leg.
They didn't want to let him go - again. It is the Plains Twp. man's third deployment with the Pennsylvania Army National Guard in a decade.
"It's heartbreaking. They're gonna miss him," Sgt. Losito's wife Elizabeth said. "They're attached to him."
As Kayla, 15; Allyson, 12; and Connor, 5, swarmed Sgt. Losito with hugs, other families said tearful farewells Friday morning on the drill floor of the 109th Field Artillery armory before the roughly 170 soldiers left for a year-long deployment to Kuwait.
Sgt. Oscar Flores, 25, of Kingston, said goodbye to some family members. But he's also taking one with him. Sgt. Flores' brother, Spc. Edgardo Flores, 20, is also headed on the mission for his first deployment.
"I taught him the ropes. I joke with him. I say, 'You're moving up (in rank) faster than me,' " said Sgt. Flores, who is going on his second deployment. "I told him it's going to be an awesome way to serve his country."
Soldiers and their families started arriving at the armory around 6 a.m.
Before leaving, the troops heard a pep talk from the 109th's commanding officer, Lt. Col. Scott Mathna. He asked them who is heading on their first overseas assignment. Most raised a hand.
"In a few minutes, you're going to experience probably the worst thing you're ever gonna do in your lives - saying goodbye to your family and loved ones," said Col. Mathna, who urged the soldiers to take their training seriously and care for one another. "It's really hard to have this many soldiers going out the door."
About 25 comrades left for the same mission Tuesday. In all, nearly half of the Wilkes-Barre-based battalion will be gone for a year. They will train in Camp Shelby, Miss., for the next two months, then spend 10 months in Kuwait on a security mission.
Capt. Anthony Guerrero, the 109th chaplain, had the soldiers circle around him and kneel in the middle of the armory floor as he led them in prayer before their departure.
"May the Lord bring them home safe - mentally, physically and spiritually," Capt. Guerrero said.
Loved ones walked with soldiers as they carried duffel bags to awaiting charter buses behind the armory. Many cried. A few waved flags. Some stood in silence with hands clasped in prayer.
As the four buses pulled away, Corey McDonough, 28, held his hat in the air and fixed his eyes on the buses until they drove out of sight. His brother, Ryan, 26, of Exton, was on one of the buses, leaving for his first deployment.
"I wanted him to know I'm still there and will always be there," Mr. McDonough later said, with a tear coming from his eye. "He's my little brother."
Contact the writer: bkalinowski@citizensvoice.com