Some members of the Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, of the 238th are spending one final weekend at home.
The unit leaves on Monday for its' second trip to Afghanistan.
But one National Guard member says he's fortunate,
Despite serving 14 years, this will be his first deployment.
News 25's Syreeta Baker has this story.

In just three days, Chief Warrant Officer Michael Heuer will say farewell to all his girls.
His wife Kara, two-year-old Sydney and three year old Grace.

"This is something I knew was a possibility, when I met him, when I married him it's his job he loves his job so I'm prepared as I could be," says Kara Heuer.

Michael Heuer is leaving his family for deployment to Afghanistan.
This is his first tour of duty in his 14 years as a pilot for the Army National guard based out of Peoria.

"Of course I would like to go my whole career without having to go anywhere at all but we knot that's not realistic."

"There are many families that have gone through this multiple times with their husband being gone or their loved ones being gone so for us to be the first time I'm very thankful," says Kara Heuer.

But with Thanksgiving coming up, Kara would love to keep, who she calls her Mr. Fix here at home.

"He's very handy so hopefully nothing breaks while he's gone. He can fix about anything," says Kara Heuer.

What he can't fix is leaving the comfort of home.

"Probably the thing I'll miss the most is every night when I come home both girls are waiting at the door and screaming daddy's home daddy's home I'm not going to get that."

What he also won't get is to say Happy Birthday in person to three-year-old Grace, who turns four on November 30th.
In Bloomington,
Syreeta Baker News 25.

Heuer's unit, the Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, of the 238th is responsible for carrying troops and supplies to outlying areas of Eastern and Central Afghanistan.