Sophia's Sports Bar was filled with firefighters Wednesday night. They weren't here on business, but for a goodbye.

Lt.David Wells has worked for the Springfield Fire Dept. for 20 years, and is leaving in four days to go across the world, training Iraqis to fight fires. And just days away from his mission, he knows it's going to be nothing like his home at the Carew Street station.

"The city doesn't issue me body armor to fight fires in Springfield, but I do get body armor in Kirkuk," Wells says.

An 11 veteran of the Army and now a 14 year current member of the Air Force, Wells has already taken the skills he's learned here at the Raymond Sullivan Safety Complex, and delivered them to Kuwait. But now, he's doing it again in Kirkuk.

"I'm going to be the fire chief for a 40 man detachment from the Kirkuk Air Force Base. It has about 5500 personnel assigned to it and I'll be responsible for all the medical and fire operations," Wells says.

Wednesday night, dozens from the brotherhood, even as far as the Cape, came to bid him a fond farewell. His mission is scheduled to last 4 months, but it could be more. His friends know he's equipped for the mission.

"We know that he will do a top job in representing us and so we're proud of him. We're going to miss him and we're going to say do a good job and God's blessings are with you," says Springfield Fire Department Rev. J. Willard Cofield.