The Montana Army National Guard conducted a departure ceremony for three soldiers from the 1049th Engineer Detachment.
Sergeant First Class David Lambers, Staff Sergeant Chris Luke, and Captain Travis Grealish will be deploying to Europe for a one-year tour. Their duty as U.S. Army National Guard firefighters in Europe is to provide fire support in the designated area.
The ceremony was held at the Parade Field in Fort Harrison with family and friends gathered. The soldiers provided last hugs before deployment.
“It's the longest goodbye I think I've ever had, just trying to prepare for it. Making sure the soldiers are good, and I know they are, but being away from family is tough. I know that is at the forefront of everybody's mind, it definitely is mine,” says Grealish.
The soldiers will first stop in Texas for training before deploying to Eastern Europe.
