More than 700 North Dakota soldiers will soon deploy to Kosovo, on the biggest single unit national guard mission... since the Vietnam War.

Three of those soldiers share a hometown... and a lot of history...

Reporter Kate Schell takes us to a special goodbye ceremony in Washburn.

They've been friends since grade school

(Kayla Beckman/ND Nat. Guard) "Actually AJ was my first elementary kiss and then I think I went out with Jordan in 6th grade." Now, they open a new chapter in their lives-together in Kosovo

(AJ RIchards/ ND Nat. Guard)" You train for the deployment like your whole careerso I was kind of excited when it really hit me. I've just been waiting these past 11 months to go over." This deployment certainly won't be like those days spent on the playground, but these young soldiers are ready

(Jordan Ternes/ND Nat. Guard) "Im glad we are going to a place that is not so...so bad compared to Iraq or Afghanistan,. I would have accepted either or." Kayla Beckman, AJ Richards and Jordan Ternes are just three soldiers from Washburn being deployed. Micheal Gedrose, Chad Reimer and Jared Reimer are being sent to Iraq in October. Even though the three heading to Kosovo are not going to a war zoneit doesn't make leaving home any easier

(AJ RIchards/ ND Nat. Guard)" The hardest part about leaving is being away from family and friends and the wife

(Kayla Beckman/ND Nat. Guard)"I have a two year old." (Jordan Ternes/ND Nat. Guard)"Im going to miss my grandparents a lot. They are in their 80s now...so thats going to be the hardest part

But their loved ones...along with Washburn community are proud of these young men and women. They have been showing their support..hoping to make this deployment a little easier." (JoDee Sayler/Jordan's Mother) "Its actually not bad as some would have. We've had the military family. My dad was a WWII veteran. I had a brother that also served in the Navy. It's been in our family. Just knowing that we have to stay postivie and not the negatives." (Laura Gardner/AJ's Sister) "Washburn has always been really tight knit and really proud of its soldiers and when I look around at the crowd tonight its so great to see so many of these people have worn the uniform before." The soldiers will be gone for a year-take part in the NATO peace keeping mission in Kosovo-KFOR

With KX News, Im Kate Schell.

The three soldiers heading to Kosovo leave Washburn in two weeks. watch the video | save this article / add to your favorites list