Hundreds of Marines and Sailors deployed to Afghanistan early Tuesday morning

Hundreds of Marines and Sailors from Camp Lejeune deployed to Afghanistan early Tuesday morning.

By: Parul Joshi | WNCT-On Your Side
Published: December 15, 2009

Two weeks ago, President Obama said he was going to send more troops to Afghanistan, and this morning they are on their way.
Hundreds of Marines and Sailors from Camp Lejeune left Tuesday around midnight in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
They are part of the 1,500 troops from Camp Lejeune's 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division who have been ordered to deploy.
Lance Cpl. Zach Bell says he’s ready to go to work, even though for him, work means he can't hold his daughter or hug his wife Christy for the next 7 months. Bell has deployed to Afghanistan once before, but this time the war will keep him from welcoming his second child into the world.
“I'm nervous, I'm worried about leaving her alone,” said Bell. “My family is going to come take care of everything. I'm going to miss the birth but it’s something we have to deal with." Christy's due date is four weeks from now.
"I mean I don't want him to leave but we've been prepared for it,” said Christy. “Once he leaves the quicker he'll come home. We're just ready to get it over with -I know he'll be ok."
Major Heath Henderson says like Bell; about half of the battalion's Marines have already been to Afghanistan.
"They saw it first hand. From an academic level so to speak – Marines understand the principals of counterinsurgency. You're focusing on the people and you're partnering with the local security forces to establish government,” said Henderson.
Meanwhile Bell isn't letting what he'll miss between now and July cloud his focus.
"I hope the actions we cause are so they can help themselves,” said Bell. “It's not going to be an easy process, it's obviously not going to be short - but whatever I can do to help makes it all better in the end. Actively, we all feel that we're doing something positive and everybody here believes in what they're doing."
And as the Marines prepare to fulfill their mission, the mission back home will be to pray for their safe return.
The Marines will partner with Afghan forces to fight the insurgents.
More Marines are scheduled to deploy from Camp Lejeune Tuesday night, as well as Thursday.