Michigan soldiers leave for Afghanistan

CORUNNA, Mich. (AP) - Hundreds of family and friends have gathered in Corunna to give a send-off to a group of Michigan Army National Guard members who are on their way to Afghanistan.

The soldiers are from the 144th Military Police Company, which has about 150 members. MLive.com says the MPs leave Monday for three months of training before heading for duty in Afghanistan.

The gathering took place Sunday afternoon at the Corunna High School gymnasium. Corunna is about 65 miles northwest of Detroit.

Twenty-one-year-old Pfc. Robert Borton of Ionia says he was a bit nervous to be going on his first deployment. He says he feels "really supported" by his comrades and by those who showed up for the send-off.