thedailytimes.com : Your 24/7 news source

Smiling through her tears Sunday morning, Blount County resident Judy Smith watched as her youngest son prepared to deploy to Camp Shelby, Miss., before leaving for Iraq in February.

"I'm proud and sad," she said, smiling through her tears. "I don't want him to go, but he's good at what he does. He likes what he does, and he's helping others."

Smith's son -- Blount County native Nathaniel John Schaefer, 26 -- is part of the Maryville-based Howitzer Battery, 1st Squadron of the 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment, which left for Mississippi Sunday morning.

The 278th is the state's largest combat unit. Since Sept. 11, 2001, more than 17,000 soldiers from the group have deployed, Blount County Mayor Jerry Cunningham said.

Dozens of soldiers, including Schaefer, stood at attention in front of family members and community leaders during a farewell ceremony at the National Guard Armory on West Lamar Alexander Parkway before saying final good-byes.

Although the Battery left for Camp Shelby Sunday morning, they will be able to spend the Christmas holiday at home -- thanks to support from area residents.

Blount County residents and the Family Readiness Group raised enough money to bus the group back home on Dec. 22, which made Sunday's farewell a little easier.

Help from the Red Cross

Red Cross representatives help get news from the home front to soldiers overseas.

"Every day, the Red Cross carries the sad news of a death or illness of a family member, the joyful news of a birth, to servicemen and women worldwide," Executive Director of the Blount County Chapter Chris Davis said in a prepared statement.

Families should keep key information handy in case the organization needs to contact a solider.

Information to keep close-at-hand:

The service man or woman's full name, social security number, the military address where they are deployed, the rank and branch of service, the home base unit and name and phone number of your local Red Cross.