Tearful goodbye for 2220th soldiers

By Bruce Whetten
Published/Last Modified on Wednesday, February 24, 2010 10:25 AM MST


Douglas Dispatch


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There wasn’t a dry eye around for the soldiers from Douglas’ 2220 National Guard Transportation Company who received an emotional sendoff Saturday as they begin a year long deployment that will eventually take them to Kuwait.

The 15 soldiers from Douglas gathered at the National Guard Armory on Eighth Street and from there said goodbye to their families, friends and supporters before being escorted out of town by the American Legion Harley riders and the Douglas Police Dept. From here they joined the rest of their squad in Tucson where they will train for the four weeks before heading to Indiana for additional training. The 2220 (which used to be the 2222nd) is expected to be in Iraq by mid May.

SSG Eddie Gracia who is in charge of the Douglas detachment, said while in Kuwait the 2220 will be “shutting down the lights in Iraq” performing pretty much convoy operations.

“We’re a transportation company and that’s what we do … we transport stuff,” he said.

Unlike previous tours Gracia said this unit is not taking any company equipment over and will instead begin preparing to bring stuff back.

“This is pretty awesome because this unit was the first one to go and now it looks like we’re going to be the last transportation company out,” he said.

Gracia is not actually going himself to Kuwait but will stay with the 2220 until they finish their training in Indiana.

“When they ship out I come back over here to take care of anything else that needs to be taken care of,” he said.

Some of Douglas’ soldiers are headed back for their third tour while others are experiencing their first.

Regardless of how many tours these brave men and women have served they all admit the goodbyes are the hardest part of their military duties.

“This is a real emotional time for them and their families,” Gracia said. “We’re our own family within the unit here but leaving their actual family is the hardest thing.”

Gracia says this is even hard on him knowing what these soldiers are going through.

“I want to go and be with them,” he said. “But I’ve been given orders to stay back. … Some people say that’s a good thing but I don’t feel that way.  I want to be with them.”

Gracia says he has spent a lot of time with the soldiers of the 2220 and feels strongly they are ready to do the job they are asked to do.

“They’ve been trained well,” he said. “They’ll be alright.”

The 2220 is expected to return home sometime next February or March.

 

Copyright © 2012 Douglas Dispatch

Comments

    lisa luhiau wrote on Jul 10, 2010 9:20 PM:

    " We love you luhiau come home soon we love you and god bless "

    rochelle borbon wrote on Mar 29, 2010 11:30 PM:

    " god bless all the troops and give them the straingth to fight and come home safe. we love you tio Joaquin Lopez you are in our prayers come home safe!!!!! "

    SPC GoodmanJames wrote on Mar 11, 2010 8:06 AM:

    " Let the fun begin...I'm hoping to see my bothers and sisters soon,and hook up with my ORIGINAL Compony again. Its gotten better here,when ya wanna relax...but anyway.
    Get here quick and carefully !
    Jim G. (The Trike Rider ) "

    bobby flores wrote on Mar 10, 2010 6:57 PM:

    " thanks to our soldados from douglas,stay safe and alert and come back home to you're familias como este veterano de vietnam lo logro grasias a dios, "

    HOOOOAAAHHH wrote on Mar 3, 2010 10:12 PM:

    " Thank you all for what you do! "

    Brave wrote on Mar 3, 2010 2:03 PM:

    " The mayor and council should be aware of what is happening in our small community. These people don't want to participate unless it is their thing and recognition is for them. Our brave men need their family and friends not these politicians that are not friendly or caring. Thank you very much!! "

    God Speed wrote on Mar 3, 2010 1:20 PM:

    " God Speed, see you on your return "

    The Portugals wrote on Feb 27, 2010 8:59 PM:

    " God Speed and come on safe. Thank you for your service! Hooah! "

    to question wrote on Feb 27, 2010 4:52 PM:

    " Did you invite the Mayor and City Council to the departure ceremony? They can not devine when you are holding ceremonies, someone needs to let them know. This mayor and city coucil are very responsive, you just need to let them know. "

    GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS wrote on Feb 26, 2010 8:31 PM:

    " Be safe and continue to make all of us from DOUGLAS proud! May God Bless you and and all of your families. May all of you return safely and soon! "

    Janella. wrote on Feb 26, 2010 8:01 AM:

    " I love you tio Alex.

    God Bless you! "

    X-Veteran wrote on Feb 26, 2010 7:56 AM:

    " Again , we are senting our young men overseas to a never ending war.Not only from Douglas, but from all the U.S.A. God bless all the troops and keep them safe. THANKS TO OUR TROOPS "

    Me wrote on Feb 26, 2010 6:08 AM:

    " Come back safe and sound gentlemen. We'll be praying for your safety. God bless and thank you for serving. "

    question wrote on Feb 25, 2010 8:37 PM:

    " I want to know where was our Mayor and City Council officials Saturday when these guys were leaving? No one from the city was there. There was one man who is running for a seat on the council that showed up but he was the only one.
    These brave men and women are protecting our country and our city and yet no one from the city showed up to see them off. Pretty sad.... "

    JB wrote on Feb 24, 2010 10:34 AM:

    " May God Bless all our brave troops!! "

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