LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- 70 Kentucky Air National Guard members said good-bye to their families on Monday.

Ashley Boucher's boyfriend is deploying. She says, "It's hard. I don't know if I'm prepared for it. I love him and I support him and I'm happy he's going."

It's a mix of emotions as families spend the last few minutes holding onto their loved ones for the last time in months.  The Kentucky Air National Guard's 123rd Airlift Wing deployed 70 airmen to the Persian Gulf region.

Jeff Pinkerton says, "Our son Sgt. Pinkerton is going on his third deployment."

Karen Pinkerton says, 'You are very proud. As a mom, you are awful scared. It's a little of both."

Senior Master Sergeant Tony Pickman is getting ready to say good-bye to his family for the ninth time and says it's never easy. It's even harder for his daughter.  Sidney Pickman says, "That he's not there. He doesn't go to my sports and my school and it's hard. But, I'm still supportive. I still wish he was there to see me succeed in everything."

Sr. Master Sgt. Pickman says, "I know it's really tough for my daughter when I'm away, missing family functions. But we'll be here for Thanksgiving and Christmas and will make up for it."

Families watched and wiped away tears as the airmen boarded two C-130s. Aircrew members and maintenance & support staff will fly troops and conduct cargo missions in the Persian Gulf area.

Half of the airmen will stay for four months. The others will stay for two months before being replaced by a second rotation of about 30 air guardsmen.

As they watched the C-130's take off, there was sadness, but a whole lot of support for what they're doing.

The Pinkertons say, "They do it because they love the country and we support them because we love our kids."

Lt. Col. Shawn Dawley says, "Realize a deployment of several months is not a life sentence. You know that the calendar will continue to click off and that someday you will come back here."

This marks the wing's seventh major deployment since 2003.

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