Sunday, May 1, 2011

Every Day Heroes

Meet the Brothers Crist via War on Terror News:

Brothers Crist Risk All in Afghanistan In Family Tradition



Ties that bind - Brothers meet in Afghanistan


By: U.S. Army Sgt. Kenneth Kumle and Spc. Thomas Sureau, Laghman Agribusiness Development Team

MSG Michael L CPT Gary L Christ
Pictured: U.S. Army Master Sgt. Michael L. Crist, left, of Basehor, Kan., personnel officer for 3/6 Kansas Calvary Agribusiness Development Team, and brother, U.S. Army Capt. Gary L. Crist, right, of Hattiesburg, Miss., maintenance officer for the 184th Expeditionary Sustainment Command, take time to view the area around Forward Operating Base Mehtar Lam, April 18. 2011. The two Army National Guard soldiers are deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. (Photo by: Sgt. Kenneth Kumle)





LAGHMAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – It transcends rank, status and military occupation, this camaraderie that is our military family. We wear our DNA on our digital-camouflage uniforms, and our heritage in the sharp creases of our Class-A dress uniforms.

We collectively trace our family tree back through the monuments, black and white photos and history books. The shared undertaking of serving the U.S. military is something that has to be experienced to be understood. We live, eat, sleep, work and fight together, a fellowship of hardship and triumph that binds us together, unspoken, but understood. These same things make military service more special when you are able to come together with your direct relatives.


While not uncommon for family members to serve in the military simultaneously, it is rare to come together while deployed, unless serving under the same command. It is a special occasion for brothers, Capt. Gary L. Crist and Master Sgt. Michael L. Crist, serving in separate commands, to then have an opportunity to meet on Forward Operating Base Mehtar Lam in the Laghman province of Afghanistan.

“Our Dad was in Vietnam, our granddad served in World War II, and our great granddad served in World War I,” said Master Sgt. Michael Crist. Michael, of Basehor, Kan., is currently on his sixth overseas tour and is a well- respected member of the armor community as a tank master gunner.

“So it’s a family tradition,” said Capt. Gary Crist. Gary, of Hattiesburg, Miss., is on his second deployment and has served in the air defense artillery branch for the past 12 years. ...



Much more on the brothers at WOTN here.

Thank you both for your service.

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