First Sky Soldiers deploy to Afghanistan

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Michael Sword | (Left) Staff Sgt. Erik Metcalf, the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team’s non-commissioned officer in charge of engineering, shakes the hand of Maj. Anthony Costello, 173rd brigade engineer, as Metcalf prepares to leave Italy with the first wave of Sky Soldiers deploying to Afghanistan, May 12.  

ITALY

05.12.2012

Story by Spc. Michael Sword 

173rd Airborne Brigade

ITALY - Surrounded by Family, friends and fellow paratroopers, the first wave of Sky Soldiers left the brigade headquarters, deploying early to Afghanistan, May 13.

As the rest of the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team continues final preparations for their deployment to Afghanistan, these six soldiers will be there first, ensuring the safe arrival of equipment and putting it all in place for the arrival of the remainder of the brigade.

“We’re the pallet pushers, to account for all the equipment and make sure all the seals are there and intact,” said Sgt. 1st Class Logan McKenzie, the 173rd’s non-commissioned officer in charge of movement.

As the soldiers prepared to board the bus, the 173rd Chaplain, Maj. Eddie Cook, took time to say a prayer for the departing soldiers and their families, reminding them that while they may be first to leave, the rest of “The Herd” will soon follow.

“God bless you all and we’ll be there shortly,” said Cook.

For McKenzie, it is his third deployment and he is used to the early departures.

“I’m always going downrange first to receive the equipment and then push it out to our front-line fighters,” McKenzie said. “For me, it’s an honor.”

• Date Taken: 05.12.2012
• Date Posted: 05.15.2012 08:23
• Story ID: 88438
• Location: IT