Chris Linskey cried a little as she said her son Ricky is thinking about his dad’s yearlong deployment to Kosovo as “summer camp.”

Chris and Staff Sgt. Rick Linskey of Hayfield have never been apart for so long during their 18 years together, so mother and son will be coping together.

Meanwhile, Rick’s mother, Helen Linskey, was beaming.

“We’re very proud of him,” she said, adding that she’d be ready to help the children get by, as well.

“I’d be a grandma to all of them if I could.”

There was a mixture of tears and pride as families from across Minnesota said their goodbyes to several dozen soldiers Monday afternoon during a departure ceremony at the National Guard Armory.

Gov. Tim Pawlenty recognized the service of Guardsmen and their families.

He called the troops “brave, strong, courageous, dedicated people,” and told the families: “When they serve, you serve, too.”

Specialist Eric Pearson sat calmly after the ceremony and chatted with his girlfriend of six months, Taylor Cook.

He’ll be a legal specialist, dealing with issues such as power of attorney or helping Guardsmen with legal issues from back home.

He says he’d rather be on a peacekeeping mission to Kosovo than to Iraq.

But none of the soldiers is expecting a calm deployment.

“Hope for the best, expect the worst,” he said.

Mankato is the company headquarters for the 2nd Battalion, 135th Infantry, but most of the 400 or so troops bound for Kosovo are from elsewhere in the state. Of the 37 soldiers deploying from the Mankato company, 17 have been to Kosovo on a previous deployment.

Capt. Thomas Zenzen is one of those returnees.