Service send-off

By KATIE SEMINARA

Families, friends bid bittersweet farewell to deployed loved ones

More than 80 reservists with the 910th Airlift Wing left Friday.

VIENNA — William Klanchar’s two sons were bundled in Steelers jackets, hats and gloves as hugs were exchanged before Klanchar deployed to Southwest Asia.

“The boys don’t really understand, so I don’t know how they’ll react,” said Klanchar’s wife, Carol, of their two sons, 8-year-old Shane and 6-year-old Trey.

Klanchar, who is an aircraft mechanic for the Air Force reservists from the 910th Airlift Wing, deployed for about 120 days with about 85 other reservists Friday in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. Officials wouldn’t say to which country the unit was being sent.

All they would say is that the reservists will be assigned to the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing and their primary mission will be to deliver personnel and cargo by airdrop and air-land techniques.

“The hardest part is just the unknown — if something will happen to him or if something will happen at home,” said Carol Klanchar.

The Klanchars, of Hubbard, also have a 14-year-old daughter, Megan, who was only 4 the last time her father was deployed.

“The last time he was gone I didn’t think about [it] because I was only this high,” said Megan, using her hand to show her height.

Not seeing him will be the hardest part while he is away, she said.

Joe and Tammy Noday, of Rogers, said they will be communicating with their daughter, Ashley, through e-mail, care packages, phone calls and with webcams.

“We’ve never used one, but we’ll try it out,” said Tammy Noday of the webcam.

Though this is her second time being deployed with members of the Air Force Reserve, Ashley Noday, 21, said it doesn’t make leaving family and friends behind any easier.

“Ashley is very dedicated and very loyal,” Joe Noday said proudly.

“She loves the Air Force,” added Tammy Noday.

While Ashley Noday is away, her dad acts as the care-package man and said his daughter made a list of all the necessities she’ll be expecting.

Shampoo, Herbal Essences specifically, is the most important product Joe will need to send, Ashley Noday said.

Tech Sgt. Desirea Miller, of Warren, won’t be sending shampoo to fellow reservists Tech Sgts. Sean Corrigan, of Canfield, and Matt Wisnewski, of New Castle, Pa., but movies, books, magazines and beef jerky are some things they can expect.

“It’s always better when it comes from home,” said Miller, noting that most of those things are already available overseas.

Miller, along with Tech Sgt. Sid Wolfe, of Salem, and Staff Sgt. Michael Elliott, of Erie, shared a few inside jokes and laughs before Corrigan and Wisnewski were deployed for the next few months.

“We always go together, always take the same trips,” said Elliott with a hint of disappointment as he sent off Corrigan and Wisnewski.

Elliott was staying behind because he recently broke his foot.

Although the five friends who have shared trips in the past will be separated, they won’t be far from each other’s thoughts.

“Sean will get me up at 3 a.m. just to say ‘Hi,’” joked Wolfe.