Army commanders at Schofield Barracks praised the soldiers of the 84th Engineer Battalion at a send-off ceremony yesterday, saying they are well-prepared for a second deployment to Iraq.

Their first 12-month deployment ended in January and now they are off to Iraq for another 12 months. The battalion will begin leaving Hawai'i in the next few weeks.

"What an example of love of country and a commitment to the ideals and values that make our country great," said Brig. Gen. Frank Wiercinski, the 25th Infantry Division's assistant division commander for support. "And what a sacrifice made by these soldiers and their families to demonstrate the American spirit and say there are some things more important than self."

The 84th Engineers build just about anything: homes, schools, roads, freshwater lines, concrete blast barriers, razor wire barricades and more. During its previous deployment the battalion completed more than 300 projects in Iraq.

The battalion will replace the 94th Engineer Battalion, which deployed from Germany and built outposts and improved outlying areas near Forward Operating Base Marez in the city of Mosul.

About half of the nearly 500 soldiers in the 84th Engineers were with the unit when it returned last January. They knew before they returned to Hawai'i that they would be returning to the war very soon.

They missed Christmas last year and they'll miss it this year, too.

"It's sad because you think about Christmas and the family will sit down and his chair will be empty for a second time," said Tina Marshall, whose husband is commander of the battalion's Bravo Company.

Marshall is in charge of Bravo Company's family readiness support group and said its presence is vital to morale.

"It's extremely important," she said. "We're all going through the same situation. Others on the outside can understand it but when you are all in the same situation, it is different."

Gwen James, a mother of three, will be sending her husband to Iraq for a third time.

"You get used to it," she said. "You hang in there the best you can. It's his job and you stand by him."

Spc. Pedro Saucedo, 22, volunteered to join the 84th Engineers on this deployment. He was in Iraq this year as a combat engineer with the 65th Engineer Battalion. On this trip he'll do carpentry.

He said he'll know what to expect this time and be more aware of what's going on around him. But he'll miss his family.

"It's tough," he said. "I just got a brand new baby — 2 weeks old."

Lt. Col. Mark Toy took over the battalion in July. He said it has been a challenge getting everyone prepared for a second deployment so soon, especially the families of his soldiers. Toy said he spent a lot of time talking to families.

"You can't really say anything to make them feel better about a deployment, so you try to integrate them and make them feel part of a family," Toy said.

Even though many in the battalion have been to Iraq before, others will be making their first deployment, Toy said. All his platoon leaders are new, he said, "but they are sharp."

"I feel very comfortable about who we got," he said.

Reach Mike Gordon at mgordon@honoluluadvertiser.com.