Carthage Troops

Four state friends and family across the area bid farewell to loved ones today. In Carthage, members of the 203 engineer battalion are preparing for active duty.A deployment ceremony was held this morning for the men and women of the 203 engineer battalion. These soldiers will report for active duty on tuesday at their mobilization station of Fort Leonard Wood. Representatives at the National Guard say the soldiers have been ordered to active duty for up to 365 days. "The detachment actually shines at every task they`re given. They`re one of the best in the battalion. Don`t worry about them in the least, they got good leadership, they`re all enthusiastic and ready to go,"said Dean Surface, First Sergeant. Family members say the soldiers will have a lot of family and community support during their mission."I love him, i`m very proud of him and he`s a wonderful man and his family`s really gonna miss him, but there`s a lot of love and prayers from our community with him,"said Jenny Jordan who has a brother in the military. Reported By:Jennifer Haile