Father, daughter deployed to Iraq

Sterling (WTNH) - A father and daughter are leaving the comforts of home and family and heading to Iraq to support Operation: Iraqi Freedom.

There was a little planting and gardening before Sgt First Class Brian Young has to go.

"Just trying to get the last minute stuff in the garden for my wife and son," said SFC Brian Young of the 192nd Military Police.

Brian is a member of the 192nd Military Police Battalion out of New Haven and is headed to Iraq for the second time.

"It's gonna be different, a lot this time, because my daughter is going with me," he said.

Samantha Young, 19, spent the last couple of days packing her gear and saying good bye.

"I"m nervous," she said. "It didn't fully hit me until the end of AT."

But, she does find some comfort in knowing she's being deployed with her dad.

Detelj "So it's like, 'oh got to keep an eye on Sgt. Young's daughter.' Does it feel good that way?"
Samantha: "Yeah."
Detelj: " Or, does it feel like you're a little bit under a microscope?" Samantha: "Feels like I'm under a microscope, sometimes."

"I think it make it a little easier for me cause I know day-to-day I'll be there," Brian said.

"I don't know how I feel actually," said Cassie Young, Brian's Wife and Samantha's mother. When asked if it is tough on her, she replied, "It is."

Cassie and her son will hold down the homestead in Sterling while dad and daughter guard prisoners in Iraq for the next year. Samantha said she'll miss her mom the most.

Detelj: "That'll be sad for you when you know you're not gonna see her for a year?"
Samantha: "Yeah cause for family day, at basic, I hugged her and I cried."