FORT KNOX, Ky. – Third Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) family and friends gathered in the early morning at Harris Hall to say goodbye to more than 100 Soldiers departing for Afghanistan, April 5.
In addition to family members, the Vine Grove Veterans of Foreign Wars (Post 10281), the Hardin County Ladies Auxiliary, and the Fort Knox American Red Cross were there to wish the Soldiers well and provide snacks for the children.
Third ESC G4 Property Book Officer, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Jene Dasal, was seen off by his wife Joselyn, their three children, and his mother-in-law and father-in-law. He has grown accustomed to the separation that deployments bring, as this will be the fourth for him and his family.
“The hardest part,” he said, “is saying goodbye.”
Third ESC Senior Enlisted Adviser, Command Sgt. Maj. Edward Bell, put the family farewells in perspective.
“The strength of the Army is our Soldiers, and the strength of the Soldiers is our families. A Soldier can be successful as long as there is support with the families. It's outstanding to see all the families out here this morning embracing their Soldiers. It's vital to a Soldiers’ resiliency to support them 120 percent.”
Bell also brought perspective to the deployment’s significance. “We are part of a historical time for our nation, shutting down the area of operations of Afghanistan. From a sustainment and logistical perspective it will be a very complex mission, but we have some of the best Soldiers and leaders in the Army."
Or, as Dasal put it, “We'll get over there, do our stuff, and then we'll come back.”