58th Military Police Company Redeployment

WHEELER ARMY AIRFIELD, Hawaii--More than 150 Soldiers of the 58th Military Police Company, 728th MP Battalion 8th MP Bde., 8th Theater Sustainment Command, redeployed from Kandahar Afghanistan, June 20th.

The unit tasked with Police mentorship training during it's year long tour in support of Operation Enduring Freedom augmented their mission by conducting more than 800 combat patrols and participating in more than 82 named operations.

"Significantly we can say that the overall security of the city was raised to a level not seen in a decade, said Cpt. Megan Spangler, commander, 58th MP Co., 728th MP Bn. "We saw the [Afghan] police embark on a greater level of professionalization and competency in their every day mission policing their community."

But while the unit overcame cultural barriers in a foreign land with their own knack and know how. Another barrier closer to home existed with the unit. Distance from those they loved. And uniquely for this unit there were nine dual military families. Families that for the last decade have been alternating deployments, doubling the average time most families have spent apart.

One of those dual military couples, Spc. Kristine Ramsey, human resources specialist, HHC, 8th MP Bde., and Staff Sgt. Tyrone Ramsey, MP, 58th MP Co.

The separation only a duel military family could know began months before deployment. Both husband and wife worked long hours, one gearing up for deployment, one working long hours in the personnel shop

"First I didn't know how I was going do it by myself, said Ramsey. "I tried not cry in front of him, but I did."

Before the tears had time to dry up, he was gone. Ramsey was left alone with their one week old child.

"It was hard, walking up alone doing everything alone but once I got a routine down it was easier," said Ramsey. "We talked on the phone the same time every day, were on webcam and shared pictures of the baby.

As the days wore on they realized how much they meant to each other, how even a thousands of miles away their day still depended on each other.

"If I was down, or he was down, it would effect the rest of the day, we made it a point to stay upbeat and positive," said Ramsey.

And life went on. "Dada" became a face on a picture, an image on the webcam, but even still across mountains and oceans the family bond grew strong. They toughed it out, they had done it before with just one family member less -- they were Soldiers

But while a dual military family takes extraordinary sacrifice and commitment, it's for something greater.

Something bigger than themselves

"We had a company of volunteers that deployed in order to support people who needed a secure environment, the afghan citizens in Kandahar haven't had that in many years," said Spangler.

Hopefully it won't be for many years that the Ramsey's separate again.

But on this day only three words needed to be whispered into Ramsey's ear to make the year melt away.

"I love you."