LOUISVILLE (WAVE) — With the troop surge in Iraq in full swing, 210 Kentucky Air National Guard troops volunteered to serve in the Middle East. WAVE 3’s Elizabeth Donatelli was there when they said goodbye to their families.

The first 34 airmen headed to the Middle East to assist in Operation Enduring Freedom on Thursday. Their trip is shorter than some 12- and 15-month deployments, but understandably family members won’t worry any less.

"It’s a little bit of fear, but at the same time this is something that he wants to do," said Brandy Wardrip, whose husband is deploying. "He’s really excited to go, so we just buckle down and carry on and hope he gets back safely."

TSgt. John Wardrip will be in an undisclosed location for the next 45 days. He says the hardest part will be leaving his family.

"Just the strain it puts on my wife and the kids," said Wardrip. "He’s old enough now to understand that Daddy’s leaving."

Wardrip volunteered to go as part of his duty and said he would do it again.   …..more