630PM: Dozens of Utah Guardsmen on their way to Iraq

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DRAPER — Fifty-three soldiers with the Utah National Guard 101st Airborne Division are departing for a 10-month deployment to Iraq. That means 53 families had to say a difficult but temporary goodbye Monday.

"Our mission is going to be to serve our country as best as they need us," said Sgt. Chad Daniel Powell, of the Utah Guard 101st AD Detachment.

Specifically, these soldires will provide technical intelligence support to the Joint Coalition Task Force.

"We're not a profession because we say we are. We are a profession because our citizens have granted us special trust," Utah Guard Maj. Gen. Jefferson Burton reminded the soldiers.

The farewell ceremony recognized the sacrifice of every soldier. It's not easy for any of them to go, nor for the army of support they leave behind.

"That's the hardest thing, the hardest part. We're very excited for the mission, but it's hard leaving these kids and our families behind," said Capt. Mike Jackson, also of the Utah Guard 101st AD Detachment.

For the next 10 months families will rely on email, letters, phone calls and Skype to communicate with their soldiers. Though it was hard, Monday's ceremony gave those family members courage and pride.

"The kids will be strengthened and … know that their dad is going to be deployed and to do this for them," Jackson said.

The soldiers from the Utah National Guard will join more than 400 other soldiers already fighting in Iraq and Kuwait against militants affiliated with ISIS.

"We're looking forward to doing a great job and completing our mission," Powell said.

Contributing: Dave McCann

Kat Thornburgh is a producer for KSL-TV. Find her on Twitter @KSLKat. Email: kthornburgh@ksl.com.

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