FORT BENNING, Ga., (March 25, 2015) -- Soldiers of the 463rd Medical Detachment, (Veterinary Service Support), returned home March 23 after a 14-week deployment to Liberia, as part of Operation United Assistance.
Capt. Kristopher Appler, Sgt. Elmer Cabana, Spc. Rysper Sirma and Staff Sgt. Patrick Dickens were welcomed home with a redeployment ceremony in Freedom Hall, which included a cake cutting and reuniting of Soldiers with their unit.
The deployment was part of the Department of Defense's effort to contain the Ebola virus outbreak in Liberia and Western Africa, said Lt. Col. Alisa Wilma, commander of the 463rd Medical Detachment.
"I'm very proud that our unit was able to participate in this very good cause," Cabana said. "I think the Liberian people are very happy that we're there and the mere fact that we made a difference coming back - there was a difference and a change in the environment itself and a change in people's attitudes ... we're pretty proud of that."
The 463rd was tasked to provide a veterinarian and three food inspectors to handle food inspection mission for the U.S. Soldiers and service members who helped the Liberians put their system back on its feet because they'd been so overwhelmed, Wilma said.
Wilma said the 14 weeks or so the unit was in Liberia accounted for $4 million worth of inspected operational rations. The Soldiers participated in 250 missions, logged over 5,000 road miles across Liberia and Senegal, investigated five epidemiological outbreaks and conducted more than 90 dining facility sanitation assessments, among other accomplishments
One Soldier stood out, though, having inspected 10,000 pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables midway through the mission. Sirma was recognized for exemplary performance by Maj. Gen. Gary Volesky, commander, Joint Forces Command - United Assistance.
"She was the most junior member of our team, so it's always fantastic when our junior members really do step up," Wilma said. "At the end of the day, it made no difference that she was the most junior member of the team, she did everything that we asked her to do."
Sirma said she had several reasons and motivations to do her part in Liberia.
"I was very excited to go because I'm from Kenya, so I wanted to go help my fellow Africans," Sirma said. "Then, I have a passion for my job and I love my unit, so I wanted to go represent my unit."
Sirma said she worked hard to maintain a professional image while deployed and to keep personal courage about her.
"Everything I did, I tried to do the right thing," she said. "I didn't have to be appointed to do anything because I knew I what I (was) supposed to do and I did my best."
Rather than a desire to go home, Sirma said she was merely abiding by the Soldiers' Creed, which said Soldiers must be ready to deploy whenever the Army needs them.
"I know everything about Africa, I'm from Africa, so I didn't have any problem with culture shock, so I felt I was ready to go," Sirma said, noting she helped to prep her fellow Soldiers in learning the African culture and what to expect.
In preparation for the mission, Soldiers went through basic Soldier skills training, as well as a great deal of added training on how to handle Ebola samples and patients.
"There was never any anticipation that my troops would be in contact, but everybody got that training before they went, just be on the safe side," Wilma said.
Following the deployment, the Soldiers stayed in Virginia as part of a 21-day medical hold.
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