DEXTER, Mo. -- Seven-year-old Jamie Moore, son of Staff Sgt. James Moore of Parma, Mo., made it through about half of Thursday's deployment ceremony of the 1221st Transportation Company of the National Guard with dry eyes.

The sandy-haired boy stood patiently while prayers were said and well-wishing letters were read. About midway through the ceremony, Jamie had reached an emotional breaking point. He just couldn't hold it in any longer. He sat on the concrete floor of the jam-packed armory, drew his knees to his chest and began sobbing.

His grandpa, Lawrence Flowers, wearing a camouflage hat and a yellow ribbon attached to his blue plaid shirt, was the first to notice. He tried consoling the boy to no avail.

Jamie wasn't concerned about Saddam Hussein, a "shock and awe" strategy or even well-wishing letters. All he knew was his dad was going off to war, perhaps for as long as a year.

"It's primarily the separation," Flowers said. "He's right at that bonding stage, and he's never been away from his daddy."

While bombs were dropping in Iraq, tears were dropping in Dexter Thursday as families said goodbye to local troops destined for the Middle East. They gathered for the deployment ceremony less than 12 hours after President Bush addressed the nation Wednesday night, announcing that America was officially at war.

Staff Sgt. Julie Curtis, 33, of Cape Girardeau and Sgt. Christopher Brown, 28, of Marble Hill were among the 60 troops who departed Thursday for training in Fort Leonard Wood before being dispatched overseas.

Both Curtis, a building designer with BBL Buildings and Components in Perryville, and Brown, a truck driver with Ken Bailey Trucking of Sedgewickville, said they were ready to do their jobs for their country.

Curtis leaves behind a husband, Frank, and two children, Alec and Ashleigh Robinson, 8 and 11, respectively. Curtis said her goodbyes to her children Wednesday night. They did not make the trip down to Dexter.

Brown's wife, Becky, and two children -- Bethany, 6, and Aaron, 3 -- attended the ceremony, which included several letters of encouragement from state and national government representatives who did not attend the ceremony, but sent representation to offer support.

All told, 2,551 National Guard reservists have been called to duty from Missouri since Dec. 14, said Sgt. Ron Holbrook of Missouri's National Guard public affairs office. Some went to Kosovo for Operation Joint Guardian. Most have assisted or will assist with Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, he said.

Becky Brown said she knew Thursday's farewell was a possibility when she married her husband.

"I'm supportive," she said. "He's been in it since high school. He wants to go to war."

Christopher, an 11-year member of the Guard, phrased it a different way: "I just want to serve my country," he said. "I believe you don't need to be in the Guard if you don't want to go."

Curtis, who is in charge of 20 troops, said the company had not yet been assigned a mission, but generally the responsibility of the company is to drive semi-trailer trucks.

"We could transport ammunition, medical supplies. ... We could transport materials to the front lines or to trailer transports, we just don't know," she said. "They haven't put out an order but everybody is directing us toward Kuwait."

The bombs and missiles fired and dropped in that region over two days added more urgency and solemnity to Thursday's deployment ceremony. It also gave Kiley Adams of Sikeston just a little more to worry about.

Kiley's husband, Daniel, was one of those who left Thursday. Daniel -- a Sikeston police officer and firefighter -- and Kiley have a 3-year-old son, Landyn, and 11-month-old twin boys, Keaton and Wesley.

"I'm just worried about him," said Kiley. "And he just worries about us."

bmiller@semissourian.com

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