NC Army National Guard members honored ahead of deployment

KINGS MOUNTAIN, N.C. — In just days, more than 150 soldiers with the North Carolina Army National Guard will deploy to the Middle East.

Those soldiers were honored at a special sendoff in Kings Mountain on Saturday. The 878th Engineer Company, out of Kings Mountain, will be deploying on Tuesday to Kuwait and Iraq.

Families of the soldiers told Channel 9 how proud they are of them.

“Mainly, you're excited. You're ready to get it started,” said Ethan Kuster, who is deploying for the first time. “We've been training a long time. We've got a lot of motivated soldiers that have great leadership teams."

Kuster and his wife Melissa have known deployment was coming up, but Melissa is feeling a mix of emotions.

“It's going to be hard. It's not going to be easy, but we're all in this together,” Melissa Kuster said.

The soldiers will build and repair basecamps and facilities.

“It's very exciting,” Ethan Kuster said. “At the same time, you just want to make sure all of your troops come home safe."

Ashley Doster knows that her two little girls will miss their daddy.

“They've been doing some training leading up to this, and (daughters) have missed him through that, so I know the longer span will be harder,” Doster said.

The soldiers will be deployed for nine to 12 months.

“There's going to be some emptiness for a while,” uncle Scott Doster said.

“The state of North Carolina appreciates the sacrifice you are making in leaving your families, leaving your jobs,” North Carolina Speaker of the House Tim Moore said.

Cox Media Group