4th Sust. Bde. ‘Wrangler’ Soldiers deploy to Afghanistan

Courtesy Photo | Sgt. Adam Erlewein, a public affairs specialist with 4th Sustainment Brigade, says goodbye to his wife, Anely Erlewein, before he leaves for his nine-month deployment to Afghanistan. Family and friends of the departing Soldiers arrived early in the morning to show their support and see their Soldier one last time before the unit’s departure.  

FORT HOOD, TX, UNITED STATES

09.09.2014

Courtesy Story

4th Sustainment Brigade

By 2nd Lt. Rebecca Burkhart
4th Sust. Bde. PAO

FORT HOOD, Texas – Approximately 150 Soldiers from 4th Sustainment Brigade’s Headquarters and the 4th Special Troops Battalion gathered at the brigade’s headquarters building Sept. 9 to bid farewell to their families and friends as they cased the unit’s colors and departed for a nine-month deployment in Afghanistan.

The brigade will spend their time in Afghanistan providing retrograde and sustainment support operations for Soldiers and coalition partners in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Family members and friends of the deploying Soldiers as well as Soldiers from the brigade’s rear detachment arrived early in the morning to show their support at a meaningful deployment ceremony.

Col. Timothy Luedecking, commander of the 4th Sus. Bde., took to the podium during the ceremony to speak about the unit’s departure.

“I don’t want you to worry. These soldiers that stand before you are the best trained because they’re in the best unit in the United States Army,” said Luedecking, as he addressed the crowd. “We will take care of your Soldiers just like they’re our family.”

The ceremony began with the playing of the National Anthem and a brief prayer given by the brigade chaplain. Following a recap of the organization’s history, commanders and senior noncommissioned officers stood before the formation to case the unit’s colors, a traditional display that symbolizes the unit’s departure from Fort Hood.

“Your brother, your mother, your sister, cousin, uncles, sons and daughters, we will do our very best to make sure we return them in the same shape as you see them in this morning and hopefully, in better shape,” said Luedecking, during the conclusion of his heartfelt speech. “Godspeed to all of you. We will see you in a short nine months back here on Fort Hood, and we will bring your loved ones back to you”.

The ceremony concluded with last minute goodbyes to Family and friends before the Soldiers loaded a caravan of buses to depart for the airport.

• Date Taken: 09.09.2014
• Date Posted: 09.09.2014 16:08
• Story ID: 141610
• Location: FORT HOOD, TX, US