California National Guard's 1-140th Aviation

[TrueblueF-18Girl]

The morning started with laugher and smiles, but soon hundreds of families were waving goodbye through tears as more than 300 soldiers boarded a plane for a one-year tour of Iraq.

Members of the California National Guard's 1-140th Aviation (Air Assault) Battalion, also known as Task Force Long Knife, deployed on Tuesday from the Los Alamitos Joint Forces Training Base -- the final deployment of three groups that started Sunday at the base.

The battalion will first go to Ft. Hood, Texas, to train for six weeks before going overseas to provide air support to the military throughout Iraq, mainly focusing on the country's central regions.

The soldiers packed their luggage into the plane -- just one duffel bag and backpack will see them through their year in the war-ridden country. One soldier strapped his pillow from home and a pair of well-worn white tennis shoes to his pack, his Army helmet dangling from the other side.

Some children held on to their fathers' fatigues hoping they could keep dad from boarding the plane. Others waved goodbye to their moms, and when they were out of sight, cried on a relative's shoulder.

For the Winsteads, it was the second deployment sendoff. The first time, Sgt. 1st Class Shawn Winstead and his wife, Jessica, said goodbye to each other in 2004; it was just the two of them and a baby on the way.

On Tuesday, Winstead, 28, said goodbye to his family of three.

[NikonGuy]

My good luck wishes goes to all of them.

[SkyBaby]

I am praying for their safe return.

[NikonGuy]

Just found out that one of my buddies was part of this deployment.

[phantomphan1974]

Oh wow.....

Did anyone make it down there for the helo or troop departures?

[Midnight Mover]

My good luck wishes goes to all of them.

Ditto