LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Hundreds of U.S. Army soldiers were honored Monday morning before being deployed from Fort Knox to Europe.
The post held a ceremony to send off about 300 soldiers as families were invited to say their goodbyes. The vast majority of soldiers will be stationed in Germany.
"It’s always a tough day," said Jennifer Dehaan whose husband is leaving on his sixth tour. "We’ve been through this before, together even, but this one feels a little bit different."
Commanding officers said the group is ready, but many are experiencing a whirlwind of emotions from nerves to excitement. Many are junior soldiers who've never been deployed before.
"I want you to know that you're all ready. Ready to do the job that we're going to be asked to do over in Europe," Maj. General Robert Burke said during the ceremony.
The mission comes after Russia invaded Ukraine in February.
"Everything that’s going on over there is trying for all of us, to be quite honest with you," Burke said.
In 2013, the V Corps was inactivated at a ceremony in Germany after nearly a century of service to the U.S. Army. Then in February 2020, the U.S. Army reactivated the V Corps at Fort Knox and identified Europe as the location for a forward headquarters. This is the first deployment for the group since it was reactivated.
IMAGES | Hundreds of V Corps soldiers honored before deploying to Europe
Hundreds of V Corps Soldiers are deploying from Fort Knox to Europe in support of NATO allies.
Hundreds of V Corps Soldiers are deploying from Fort Knox to Europe in support of NATO allies.
Hundreds of V Corps Soldiers are deploying from Fort Knox to Europe in support of NATO allies.
Hundreds of V Corps Soldiers are deploying from Fort Knox to Europe in support of NATO allies.
Hundreds of V Corps Soldiers are deploying from Fort Knox to Europe in support of NATO allies.
Hundreds of V Corps Soldiers are deploying from Fort Knox to Europe in support of NATO allies.
Hundreds of V Corps Soldiers are deploying from Fort Knox to Europe in support of NATO allies.
Hundreds of V Corps Soldiers are deploying from Fort Knox to Europe in support of NATO allies.
Hundreds of V Corps Soldiers are deploying from Fort Knox to Europe in support of NATO allies.
Hundreds of V Corps Soldiers are deploying from Fort Knox to Europe in support of NATO allies.
Hundreds of V Corps Soldiers are deploying from Fort Knox to Europe in support of NATO allies.
Hundreds of V Corps Soldiers are deploying from Fort Knox to Europe in support of NATO allies.
Hundreds of V Corps Soldiers are deploying from Fort Knox to Europe in support of NATO allies.
Hundreds of V Corps Soldiers are deploying from Fort Knox to Europe in support of NATO allies.
Hundreds of V Corps Soldiers are deploying from Fort Knox to Europe in support of NATO allies.
Hundreds of V Corps Soldiers are deploying from Fort Knox to Europe in support of NATO allies.
Hundreds of V Corps Soldiers are deploying from Fort Knox to Europe in support of NATO allies.
Hundreds of V Corps Soldiers are deploying from Fort Knox to Europe in support of NATO allies.
Hundreds of V Corps Soldiers are deploying from Fort Knox to Europe in support of NATO allies.
Hundreds of V Corps Soldiers are deploying from Fort Knox to Europe in support of NATO allies.
The Corps will now support NATO's eastern flank and help coordinate multinational exercises across Europe. This move allows the U.S. to have a bigger presence in Europe as Russia continues to invade Ukraine.
The troops don't know how long they'll be in Europe, which made a tough situation as they said goodbye to spouses, kids and parents.
"It's a good cause, so I'm absolutely honored to be a part of it," said Bill Dehaan, human resources technician for V Corps. "But the most difficult part absolutely is leaving my kids and wife behind."
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