Brian Gline, 22, is a 1999 graduate of Ryle High School. He is the son of Brenda Williams of Covington and Bill Gline of Petersburg, Ky.

His sister Angel Gunn of Covington, writes:

My brother Brian Gline is part of the 478th Battalion that was deployed from Fort Thomas. Brian is a track mechanic.

He contacted our mother by phone last week and said spirits are high among his battalion.

He is my mother's only son and she is taking it very hard that he is going off to fight. It is very hard for us because we are such a close family.

My brother Brian is the bravest person I know. I have so much love and respect for him because of what he is doing. It is truly a very scary thing to not know where he is going or when he is going to come back.

My daughter is too young to understand what is happening but my son Ben worships his uncle. He is so concerned that he calls Saddam "that bad man" and asks if he will hurt his Uncle Brian. I don't know how to respond. How do you tell a 7-year-old that you don't know? How do you explain to a child that everything is going to be OK and not to worry when you yourself are worried?