AMARILLO, TEXAS -- A couple of soldiers had the opportunity to ring in the new year with friends and family, but today they say good bye.

Friends and family, along with America Supports You Texas, were at Rick Husband International Airport to bid farewell to Corporal Michael Rockholt. 

He's been enjoying the past two weeks in Amarillo, but now he's heading back to Afghanistan.

"I have lots of pride, I mean I enjoy what I do, and I do what I do, so that others don't have to," said Cpl. Michael Rockholt, U.S. Marine Corps.

Corporal Rockholt has already completed two tours of duty in Iraq.

Christopher Jones is another soldier who's leaving home to head back to Initial Entry Training (IET) in San Antonio.

"At first it was the whole this is our nation thing, but as I got into it, it's more of a that's my battle buddy, and the better I am -- the more safe he is, so that's really what its become for me."

Jones has one month left of training as a healthcare specialist in the U.S. Army.