August 21, 2008 Mothers prepare as children go into combat Play video

(Josh McElveen, NECN: Mashpee, MA) - Recently the small town of Mashpee, Massachusetts was stunned by the loss of two hometown soldiers.

But the war doesn't stop with tragedy, on the heels of this monumental loss- a pair of Mashpee mothers are preparing to send their own children into combat.

Wednesday morning was a difficult one for the Amaral family .. You see that was the day mom Jamie sent her son Marc off to war. and the moment before he left is one that this Mashpee mother will never forget.

We didn't let go for a little bit.. he hugged my daughter then went to his father Steven... then came to me last then did it one more time... then he was like I gotta go..."

By all accounts.. 19 year old Marc Amaral was born to be a marine.. And though he stands all of 5 feet five inches tall and weighs 130 pounds... His family says he is tough as nails. In boot camp his drill instructors nicknamed him mighty mouse.. But by the end of his time at Parris Island.. He had shown the leadership skills to earn a promotion to private first class .. And he was named series honor man. But Marc didn't tell his mom of his achievement until the day she arrived..

"We flew down to see the graduation.. and as honor grad he holds the flag for his company.. and it was quite a memorable moment... "

Since Marc .. Now a lance corporal .. Is attached to a marine expeditionary unit.. Security concerns prevent him from telling

his family where he'll be or when. But as a marine rifleman .. Jamie knows her son could be called into combat at any time.

"His last words were.. I'm gonna be ok mom. So all I can do is cross my fingers on that one."

And if there is anyone that knows what Jamie is going through... It's Della Sattin. Her older son Stephen spent 15 months in Iraq where he was wounded not once but twice.. Even so it wasn't enough to stop Della’s youngest son Ben from enlisting in the army at the age of 17.

"His mind was made up.. and I tried to talk him out of it.. and tried to convince him that he had other options and there were other things that he could do.. and he said no this is what I want to do.. he wanted to follow in his older brother's footsteps it's where he wanted to be and he has several friends who have all made the same decision."

One of those friends is Marc Amaral.. The two were classmates at Mashpee high school and members of the 2007 graduating class. Ben is set to ship out to boot camp in a few weeks.. And last week he was able to spend a little time with Marc.. A week both likely thought would amount to a little down time.

"when Lance Corporal Mac Amaral was home on leave last week he had hope to spend his days relaxing with friends and family.. Soaking up just a bit of summer on cape cod.. Instead his days were spent grieving with a community mourning the loss of fellow classmates.. "

On Thursday of last week.. Mashpee was rocked with the news that marine PFC Dan MacGuire was killed in Iraq when a post he was guarding was attacked by enemy forces. MacGuire was also a member of the 2007 class at Mashpee high school and friends with both Marc Amaral and Ben Sattin. Then on Friday.. Another devastating blow.. Army PFC Paul Conlon.. A 2005 graduate of Mashpee high.. Was killed in Afghanistan by a roadside bomb. They are the cold realities of war.. Laid out before the very eye's of the mothers who sons will now fight in their place.

"It’s difficult.... What keeps me at peace is just knowing that that this is what they wanted to do.. They wanted to defend their country.. And defend their families and friends.. It's hard.."

"I Think it made him angry.. Ya know set in stone that I gotta do something.. So.. I think he wants his turn to make a difference."