n Members of the 658th Quartermaster Reserve Unit met with their families to prepare for a year's deployment.

BY SHEENA BARNETT

Daily Journal

TUPELO - Members of the 658th Quartermaster Reserve Unit had a little help tying up some loose ends Sunday, two days before they leave for Iraq.

Twenty-six members of the unit will first be sent to Indiana on Tuesday for training before being going to Iraq for about a year.

Those who are being sent overseas had their families with them at the Army Reserve Center in Tupelo on Sunday to meet with members of the Family Readiness Group, American Red Cross and other organizations to prepare for the deployment.

During the sessions, both soldiers and families learned what support is available for those staying at home while a family member is overseas.

Discussed were topics such as budgeting, mental health and other family help.

"The main thing we're offering soldiers today is the opportunity to stand up and realize what they're about to go through," said Sgt. Aaron Lovelady, a liaison for Family Readiness Support.

Marlene Davidson, treasurer and fundraiser coordinator for the Family Readiness Group, said such a day is often planned for troops and their families before deployment.

"We talk about their personal finances, about their emergency contacts - either here at home or there, overseas - and we talk about family assistance," she said. "We'll be passing out Bibles, and there will be people to talk to about insurance and personnel needs."

Members of the 658th Quartermaster Reserve Unit were sent to Indiana for training in 2003 and were supposed to go on to Iraq from there, but the trip overseas was canceled.

This time, the troops know for sure that they will head to Iraq after training in Indiana, said Cheryl Bramlett, an FRG leader and whose son, Sgt. Wayne Easterling, is a member of the 658th.

"I'm not really nervous," Easterling said. "We've been preparing for a while now."

Sgt. 1st Class Tessie Randle of Hamilton left early for Indiana on Sunday, and said she hates leaving her three daughters, ages 15, 7 and 1. She said she's nervous about her deployment but is eager to go.

"I'm ready to go, so we can get it started, so we can get home," she said. "I try not to think about it, but at the same time, I'm leaving. I'm leaving my babies for a year."

Though she hates leaving her family, Randle has been in the military for 21 years and enjoys serving.

"I love it," she said, "and I plan on staying a little while longer."

Some of the soldiers' families said they too felt prepared for their loved ones to go overseas, especially after the sessions Sunday.

Sarah Hubbert's son, Spc. Michael Dotson, will be among those heading out.

"I know Christ," she said, "so I know he's going to take care of him."

Contact Sheena Barnett at (662) 678-1580 or sheena.barnett@djournal.com.