43rd Sustainment Brigade 'torch party' begins redeployment

News: 43rd Sustainment Brigade 'torch party' begins redeployment

43rd Sustainment Brigade

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Story by Staff Sgt. Ian M. Terry Follow This Journalist

Staff Sgt. Ian M. Terry

The 43rd Sustainment Brigade "torch party" prepares to redeploy to Fort Carson, Colo., after completing their mission during the brigade's year-long deployment to Kandahar Air Field, Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, Dec. 18.

KANDAHAR AIR FIELD, Afghanistan – Nearly two months before the main body of Fort Carson’s 43rd Sustainment Brigade deployed to Kandahar Air Field, Afghanistan, in March, a handful of dedicated soldiers – the “torch party” – flew ahead of them and lit the way.

Those same soldiers of the 43rd SB torch party completed their mission and will redeploy home to Fort Carson this week. The brigade held an informal end-of-tour awards ceremony for six of these soldiers in the brigade’s tactical operations center Dec. 18.

The 43rd SB assumed mission responsibility from the 82nd SB on March 22, a mere two weeks after arriving in Afghanistan. The 43rd was up and running, providing tactical sustainment to the warfighters of Afghanistan’s Regional Command-South and -West in record time.

The torch party soldiers were instrumental in laying the groundwork for a successful transition of authority for the 43rd SB, said Command Sgt. Maj. Randy S. Varner, the brigade’s command sergeant major. He said their steadfast efforts made all the difference in getting the brigade up to operational speed so quickly.

Maj. John M. Ruths, 43rd SB officer in charge of operational planning, and torch party member, said it feels strange to return home without the rest of the brigade.

Capt. Stacey A. Ginsberg, a legal services officer in the brigade, echoed Ruths’ sentiment, but said she looks forward to getting home and making sure the brigade is ready to welcome home the rest of its soldiers in March.

Together with Ruths and Ginsberg, Maj. Heather J. Sharpless, Capt. Michael A. Craigg, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Scot A. Mullican and Sgt. 1st Class Richard R. King will be returning to Fort Carson this week.

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