Lester Stroup got married Dec. 6 and, while it will be hard to leave his new bride, the specialist with the 107th Field Artillery's Firing Battery A said he has more peace of mind than he did in previous deployments to Iraq during the Persian Gulf War, Honduras and Germany.

"It's hard emotionally leaving," said the longtime Sharon resident, who recently moved to Sarver. "But there is comfort in knowing she is caring for me and waiting for me when we come back."

Stroup is one of 124 members of Alpha Battery, based at the National Guard armory in Hermitage, who was to board a bus at 7 a.m. this morning for Fort Dix., N.J. The soldiers have been activated by the federal government, and have been told to expect to spend 12 months of the 18-month deployment in Iraq.

Capt. Robert Palumbo, battery commander, said he does not know when the men will be shipped overseas. They will receive additional training at Fort Dix.

Sunday, the battery held a departure ceremony that attracted enough family members, friends and well-wishers to fill about two-thirds of the Hickory High School auditorium.

"That today was very heartfelt," said Stroup, who also is leaving behind two daughters, ages 8 and 4, who live in Masury. "Seeing all that support really warmed my heart."

Tears, hugs, handshakes and rounds of applause were shared as speakers thanked the soldiers for the job they are about to do, and family members or supporting the soldiers in their service to their country.

"The soldiers that are leaving are very fine individuals," Palumbo said. "I know you're worried about them. So are we."

Palumbo pledged to return all 124 members of Alpha Battery to their families.

"That is my job," he said. "That is my promise."

Although trained in artillery, they will be performing military police duties in Iraq, potentially brining the soldiers in harm's way.

"This isn't going to be easy for anybody," said state Rep. Michael C. Gruitza, D-7th District, Hermitage, referring to the soldiers and their families. "This assignment this group's going to have is no lightweight assignment."

Maj. Grey Berrier, executive officer of the 107th, said the battalion has historically faced assignments that were not lightweight. Formed during the Civil War as part of the Independent Pennsylvania Light Artillery, the unit was federalized in 1898 to fight in Puerto Rico during the Spanish-American War, then chased Pancho Villa during the Mexican War in 1916.

Mobilized a year later to serve in France during World War I., the unit returned to France in World War II, and also fought in Germany.

The unit has been stateside since a tour in Germany in the 1950s, during the Korean War.

"Soldiers of Alpha Company, your nation needs you at this time," Berrier said. "I'm proud that every one of you has answered that call."

State Sen. Robert D. Robbins, R-50th District, Salem Township, argued President Bush could not have called a better unit. He said National Guardsmen are older than the typical enlisted men, and have families to raise and professions to maintain, all of which gives them certain experience that aids them in completing their mission.

"You are probably the best people to do the job," Robbins said.

"We are very proud to do this mission," Palumbo said. "We accept it humbly."

Pennsylvania National Guard is supplying about one-third of the 3,000 National Guardsmen called up for security operations in Iraq. Departure ceremonies also were held Sunday for firing batteries based in Oil City and Pittsburgh and administrators in New Castle.

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