"This, my flag. This is freedom."

That's what Medic Tyrone White told Local 10's Ross Palombo while pointing to an American flag on his uniform.

With a flag on his arm and courage in his heart, White was marking his final moments with his family before his deployment to Afghanistan.

"You always wanna put your best foot forward and represent where you're from," said White.

His battalion from Miami, the 841st, has been training for weeks and will move out this weekend to bring back up support to thousands of U.S. troops and aid people living in Afghanistan.

After a decade of deadly fighting on the front line and political quarreling at home, White said his mission is only about service and honor.

"It's ingrained in me to be a soldier," White said. "I just wanna do my part and help out any way I can and hopefully make a difference."

His mother and veteran father know the possible price, but only feel pride as White prepares to leave.

Their son is now eager to step off, following in his father's footsteps, and marching fearlessly as an American son, sent straight from Miami.

"Yeah, I was raised well, by some brave people," said White. "I grew up here, born here in the greatest country in the world. Why not protect it, ya know?"