Twins help promote brother while serving country in Iraq

KIRKUK, Iraq - Twin sisters, Spcs. Sarah and Angela Andrews, helped promote their brother, formerly Spc. Ryan McCarty, 2nd Squadron, 6th U.S. Cavalry Regiment, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade, to the rank of sergeant during an award and promotion ceremony at Forward Operating Base Warrior, Kirkuk, Iraq, Aug. 10.

Both Sarah and Angela are supply specialists with 3rd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, and are currently deployed to Forward Operating Base Warhorse in Baqubah, Iraq. Their brother Ryan is deployed with 2-6 Cav., attached to the 25th Infantry Division’s 3rd Brigade Combat Team in Kirkuk, Iraq. All three siblings are natives of Bremerton, Wash., and were reunited by Army leadership for McCarty’s promotion. Each expressed their gratitude and thrill in seeing each other while deployed.

“(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,” she continued.

Her sister Angela agreed.

“Today is important for a lot of reasons, but mostly because we haven’t seen our brother in over two years,” Angela 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,” she said.

As for the newly-promoted Sgt. 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,” said McCarty. “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,” he continued. “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.”

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