Utah National Guard leaves on largest deployment in a decade
BLUFFDALE, Utah (ABC4) — Hundreds of Utah’s National Guard boarded a plane at Camp Williams to start their military deployment in Africa on Sunday — the unit’s largest deployment in over a decade.
Over 2500 family, friends, and loved ones said their goodbyes to nearly 300 soldiers from Utah’s 204th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade at the Roland Wright Air National Guard.
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“It’s exciting, nerve-wracking, and terrifying,” Master Sgt. Michael Broadhead said. “There’s a lot of different emotions.”
Soldiers in the brigade have different jobs, including operations, communications, logistics, and maneuver support.
They’re heading to Djibouti, Africa.
“We have amazing people that are going with us to support this mission,” Deputy Commander Adam Sherman said.
While they say they’re taking on a big responsibility, many are leaving a lot back at home.
This is Major Mark Hruza’s second deployment, but his first as a married man — and his first as a father.
“Our little baby, Josh, he’s two months old,” Hruza said. “This one’s a little tougher. I’m leaving a lot behind.”
Hruza and his comrades will be gone for nearly a year. He said he’ll have to rely on FaceTime to watch Josh grow up, something his wife, Crystal Hruza is all too aware of.
“It’s going to be hard going home to an empty house,” she said. “I love him so much and he better come back.”
As the plane geared up, soldiers said their final, tearful goodbyes.
“I’ll be thinking about her everyday,” Hruza said about his wife. “Even though I’m a world apart, I’ll never stop feeling her love in my heart.”
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