Twin Sisters Help Promote, Support Brother in Iraq

By Sgt. Mike Alberts, USA
Special to American Forces Press Service

Aug. 17, 2007 - Twin sisters and fellow Army Spcs. Sarah and Angela Andrews helped promote their brother, Ryan McCarty, to sergeant here earlier this month. Both Sarah and Angela are supply specialists with 3rd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, deployed to Forward Operating Base Warhorse, in Baqubah. Their brother, Ryan, is deployed with 2nd Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment, attached to 25th Infantry Division's 3rd Brigade Combat Team in Kirkuk. All three siblings are natives of Bremerton, Wash., and were reunited by Army leaders for McCarty's promotion.

"(Angela and I) were both shocked that the Army would send us here to see Ryan get promoted," said Sarah, the elder sister by five minutes. "We're really glad that we could be here today for him."

Angela agreed. "Today is important for a lot of reasons, but mostly because we haven't seen our brother in over two years," she said. "Family is very important to all of us, and it means a lot to the whole family that we're here today for Ryan."

As for the newly minted Sergeant McCarty, having his sisters present for his promotion reinforced his opinion about the Army's commitment to family. However, it also required that he make a commitment to his Mom.

"It was very important to me that they're here today for a lot of reasons," McCarty said. "It's been a long time since I've seen my sisters. But also, it just shows that the Army does care about family and was willing to take two soldiers out of (combat) to support a family member.

"Of course, the family is proud of all three of us, and Mom made sure to remind me that I'd better not forget to take and send pictures."

(Army Sgt. Mike Alberts is assigned to the 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team.)