They hope their purchases of a video camera and a digital camera will help document for him the milestones that will happen in the life of their 17-month-old daughter, ShyAnn.

"I am excited to go," he said, "but I hate being away from them. I feel like I have missed so much already."

ShyAnn was born when he was in basic training, and he knows there are those big moments of "firsts" he won't be able to personally witness.

"Hopefully, we will be able to communicate a lot, and that will help," he said.

Read said the mission is also about the families "over there" — the Iraqi people who deserve a stable life once the troops pull out.

"Irregardless of your perspective on the war, wrong or right, the hopes are that a government with vitality is left behind and they can stand on their own and maintain peace. They're human beings, just like us, and we all want the same thing."

e-mail: amyjoi@desnews.com