Janelle Frable said it will be "scary" without her husband, Jeff, as he ships out with the 347th Quartermaster Company of the Army Reserves.

But being without the father of her three young sons is not half as scary as what "might come over this way," courtesy of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, she said.

So, Mrs. Frable is sending off her husband, a mess sergeant with the rank of sergeant first class, with pride and understanding.

"He has a job to do," she said.

The 347th, based at Pendel-Caminiti U.S. Army Reserve Base in Farrell, moves out today for Fort Dix, N.J. Its ultimate destination is not known.

Members of the 347th were sent off with a dinner for them and their family members Sunday at the American Legion in Sharon.

"This is really great," said Pvt. John Bates of Sharpsville, a petroleum supply specialist. "It's nice to see that the organizations and the community support us."

"I think it's great the town is having us get together with our families one last time," said Sgt. First Class Gregory Moore of Sharon, a platoon sergeant. "The town is saying goodbye and farewell, which is a good thing."

Organizers had a week to put together the dinner, which was supplied by donations from area businesses and staffed by volunteers from the American Red Cross, police departments and other agencies. The legion donated the hall and helped staff the dinner.

"We had people just show up and say, 'What can we do?''' said Staff Sgt. Dawnle Scheetz, a dinner organizer and unit administrator for the 635th Quartermaster Company, which also is stationed at Pendel-Caminiti. "We had people show up and hand us food."

Organizers were prepared to feed 1,000, including 260 soldiers.

Because the 635th has not been called up, its members want to do what they can for the families of the members of the 347th.

"It's our time now to help the family members of the units that are deployed," Ms. Scheetz said. "This shows them that we are interested in and care for their family members."

Mrs. Frable said her goal while her husband is away is to keep things as normal as possible for her sons, who are ages 8 months, 3 and 6.

"It's not going to be easy," she said. "The boys are very close and he's a good and loving father."

The 347th is made up of members from western Pennsylvania and neighboring states. Some of the soldiers have combat experience, while others are new to the military.

Bates, 21, formerly of Brookfield, signed up in August and returned from basic training Feb. 26.

"I got my orders I was going five days later," he said.

A political science student at Youngstown State University, Bates said he enlisted to get financial help for college and give him credentials for a future political career.

"You know when you sign up it can happen," he said of being called to active duty. "I've been ready since I hit the door at basic training to go. If my country needs me, I'll go."

As one of the youngest members of the company, Bates said he's happy to have people like Frable, who served in Operation Desert Storm, along with him.

"I'm going into the unknown," Bates said. "When you get someone who's been there and has the experience, it's a good feeling to have."

Frable, who only described himself as a Mercer County resident, said he has "nothing bad to say" about the possibility of ending up in Iraq again.

"It's just one of those things that has to be done for the country," he said. "I'm glad to do it."

A 34-year-old PennDOT employee, Frable said he supports President Bush.

"I'm behind him 100 percent," said Frable, who has served in the reserves for half his life.

Sgt. David Cooper said he has a simple motivation for his active duty service.

"You have to remember 9-11," said the Grove City man, an E5 and power generation mechanic.

Cooper, 40, an equipment operator for PennDOT and a colleague of Frable's, said he's not worried about anti-war sentiment in the country.

"All we can do is be ready to go, go over there and do what we have to do and come home," said the 16-year veteran of the military. "We've had a lot of support. I like that."

Moore, 40, a 23-year military veteran, also said he's happy with the support back home and is unfazed by protests.

"That's also why we exist -- to give people a right to do that," he said.