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Army Staff Sgt. Melodie A. Hunt, left, and her sister, Army Pfc. Mallorie A. Hunt share a moment during their lunch time. The Hunt sisters are deployed to Baghdad. U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Jasmine N. Walthall

Face of Defense: Sisters Serve Together in Baghdad

By Army Pfc. Jasmine N. Walthall
Special to American Forces Press Service

CAMP STRIKER, Iraq, May 5, 2009 - Some soldiers turn to friends within their unit for the support they need during a deployment. Others are lucky enough to have a family member serving with them.

Army Staff Sgt. Melodie A. Hunt and Army Pfc. Mallorie A. Hunt, Lumberton N.C. natives, are sisters who are currently deployed to Baghdad. Although they serve in different units, they said, they still find time to get together.

Melodie Hunt is a member of the 449th Theater Aviation Brigade, an Army National Guard unit out of Morrisville, N.C. She is deployed as the air movement request noncommissioned officer in charge, with duties that include manifesting flights for soldiers. She also is the brigade's retention NCO.

Mallorie Hunt is a truck driver for Alpha Company, 47th Forward Support Battalion, out of Baumholder, Germany. When her unit moved here in early fall, it was a pleasant surprise for the sisters.

"We were still in the states when we found out that Mallorie would be at the same place as me," Melodie Hunt said. "It was pleasing to know that I would have someone there for me, and it made our parents more comfortable [with] us being together for my sister's first deployment."

Melodie Hunt, who is on her second deployment in her eight-year military career, works as a police officer for the Lumberton Police Department when at home.

The Hunt sisters are 12 years apart, and they said they have this deployment to thank for strengthening their relationship.

"It was good to be able to spend what time together that we could," Melodie Hunt said. "We work out together, and sometimes eat meals, which is more than we had when she was in Germany."

Her sister agreed. "The older we have become, the closer we have gotten," Mallorie Hunt said. "Sharing this deployment has helped that."

(Army Pfc. Jasmine N. Walthall serves with Task Force 449.)