West Tennessee Troops Deploy to Afghanistan
This video is no longer available.
WEST JACKSON, Tenn. — Less than 24 hours after Valentine’s Day, West Tennessee troops said goodbye to their loved ones as they leave to attend training for war in Afghanistan. Troops waved goodbye as their families, tearful and hopeful, wave back. For the family of Chief Warrant Officer Don Lines, this is not the first time they have said goodbye. “It makes me feel pretty sad but I know God has a plan for him,” his daughter Amaya Lines said to him. “He’s just a very godly example to us and and just a great dad,” his daughter, Petra, said. His daughters said he is their hero and he has inspired them to do big things. 10-year-old Zion said her dad inspired her to find a cure for cancer some day. “I want to fight for other people because he fought for us,” Zion said. They all said it is hard that Don’s dreams take him across the world, but that they push him to be the best he can be too. “If I asked him not to do this it would be asking him to not be who he is,” his wife, Amy, said. “He’s a pilot and he’s awesome to me,” Amaya said. Lines took off in one of the helicopters known as the Kiowa Warrior. He’s headed to Fort Hood, Texas where he will spend 4-6 weeks before deploying to Afghanistan. Now the girls are ready to wait until dad comes home again. “We have this huge banner that says welcome home,” Zion said. “I’m going to hug him. He’s going to have to pull me off to make me stop hugging him,” Amaya said as she laughed. Don said that is what keeps him going too. “Its okay to be sad, it’s okay to be upset. But just stay strong and dad will come back and we’ll pick up where we left off,” he said. The troops flew out from the National Guard across from McKellar-Sipes Airport. Their orders from the National Guard state they will spend no more than 400 days in Afghanistan.
