Michiana families spend one last day with their soldiers, as they prepare to serve in Iraq.

A National Guard company based out of Elkhart left Michiana in July, and has been training at Camp Atterbury for the last 6 weeks. Friday, families made the trip to the camp south of Indianapolis to say goodbye during a departure ceremony.

The 1538th Transportation Company has around 180 members. About 95 of them are from our area, and most of the others are from Edinburgh, IN.

“I want to thank you all for the sacrifices you're about to make,” said Major General Richard Moorhead, the Commanding General of the 38th Infantry Division, as he addressed the 1538th at the departure ceremony.

Kim Smiechowski of Elkhart knows about that sacrifice, but hers is two-fold.

“I wish they weren’t all going at the same time,” Smiechowski said.

Both her children are being deployed.

“My son joined first and then his sister joined into the same unit about a year and a half later,” Smiechowski said.

Smiechowski's daughter will be leaving her three children, Kim’s grandchildren, back home.

The Smiechowskis are just one of the 186 stories.

Like the Elkhart mother who's 45-year old son enlisted for the first time.

"It’s hard to see your son going someplace that you have no idea where it is," said Karen Hager.

Or the Goshen family of four, with a father serving his second tour.

“I’m really scared that he’s going, but it's pretty good, but we'll miss him,” said Stephen Babin, whose father Mike is leaving.

And a young new Carlisle couple married four years, separated for the first time.

“It’s a big culture shock. So right when I get over there totally different I’m sure,” said Richard Burkus, while his wife Sarah came to see him off.

While the soldiers feel their hearts tug, they stand by their decision.

“Families are always going to be nervous for us, but we as soldiers know that it’s out job,” said 1st Sergeant James Vanhuffel, Hager’s 45-year-old son.

But the families say they will need help, anyway.

“Just pray for the unit. Keep them in your prayers they're going to need it,” said Sarah Burkus.

“You don’t have to support the war just support me and my family,” said Mike Babin.

And they all have the same hope.

“Just come home safe to your loved ones... That's all,” Hager said

The motto for the unit is "Drive it like you stole it."

The 1538th is a transportation company. They'll mostly be working to deliver gas and other supplies for operations in Iraq.

They've been called on twice recently; to Iraq in 2004, and they helped during Hurricane Katrina in 2005. But for many, this is their first tour.