Planning your next family reunion—how about Kuwait?

Photo By 1st Lt. Stefanie Kuntz | 1st Lt. Brandon Bass (left), and his sister, Sgt. Brittany Bass prepare to enjoy a meal together at a Camp Buehring, Kuwait, dining facility during a brief reunion on the base. 1st Lt. Bass was temporarily stationed at the base en route to Al Asad, Iraq, with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 371st Sustainment Brigade. Sgt. Bass is stationed at nearby Camp Virginia, Kuwait, with Company A, 237th Support Battalion, 37th Infantry Briagade Combat Team.  

AL ASAD, IRAQ

08.28.2008

Story by 1st Lt. Stefanie Kuntz 

37th Infantry Brigade Combat Team

By 1st Lt. Stefanie Kuntz
37th Infantry Brigade Combat Team

AL ASAD, Iraq - With the current pace of mobilizations, Soldiers are increasingly required to separate from their loved ones for tours overseas. For families with multiple Soldiers in their ranks, the effects swell as overlapping deployments keep spouses, siblings and parents separated for prolonged periods of time.

1st Lt. Brandon Bass arrived in Al Asad, Iraq, this past June to begin a yearlong tour as a battle captain assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 371st Sustainment Brigade. His younger sister, Sgt. Brittany Bass, had been mobilized with Company A, 237th Support Battalion, 37th Infantry Brigade Combat Team since early January and is a member of the quick reaction force on Camp Virginia, Kuwait. Both Soldiers are Ohio National Guardmembers.

While en route to Al Asad recently, 1st Lt. Bass and his unit stopped at Camp Buehring, Kuwait - a staging post for troops moving into theatre. The two installations are a short drive from each other, which enabled the units to arrange two visits for the Bass siblings—one at each camp.

Both units are committed to reinforcing the importance of family at every opportunity and, mission permitting, provide maximum time for letters, e-mail and phone calls home. Command Sgt. Maj. Jeff Horne from the 237th helped to coordinate the reunion and called it "one of the highlights of the tour." He said opportune meetings between family members in theatre are a top priority and he will commit whatever resources are at his disposal to make it happen.

"My brother and I talked about how much our deployments have made us realize how fortunate we are and how much we take for granted on a daily basis," Sgt. Bass said. "It's comforting to meet my brother's battle buddies and know he's with such a great group of Soldiers."

Back in Ohio, the troops' parents knew their children were in close proximity to each other. They also knew the units were arranging a meeting, but they didn't know when their phone rang that both Brandon and Brittany would be on the other end. Hearing the excitement in their parents' voices reaffirmed the siblings' commitment to the family, whom both siblings said are with them in spirit through their love and support.

"While these deployments placed a lot of stress on our family, it has also brought us closer together," said 1st Lt. Bass. "I am very proud of my sister and this is a story I look forward to someday being able to share with our children."

• Date Taken: 08.28.2008
• Date Posted: 08.28.2008 09:16
• Story ID: 22955
• Location: AL ASAD, IQ