Family members surrounded Capt. Nicole McCoy as she prepared to deploy to Kuwait.
The 1st Theater Sustainment Command human resources officer joined about 25 of her comrades at Fort Knox Nov. 30 for a deployment ceremony in Sadowski Center to enjoy the well wishes before departing on her second career deployment.
"It's a lot more emotional because my son is five years old," she said. "He was nine months old the first time, so it's a little bit rougher."
The unit has stayed perpetually deployed on a rotational basis since 2006.
Every six to nine months, a team of Soldiers deploys to a designated area while another one returns home. The command rotates through three teams this way, which they identify as red, white and blue. The red team is deployed and is expected to return home in time for the holidays.
Meanwhile, McCoy and the other members of the white team started their deployment last week. This is the command's second such deployment since the headquarters moved to Fort Knox over the summer.
McCoy is originally from Shepherdsville and moved to Fort Knox in August. In charge of tracking personnel and making sure sustainment missions are staffed, she said she'll use FaceTime and iMessage to stay connected while away. Although Christmas will be missed, she celebrated Thanks-giving with her son Landon and her Family.
Staff Sgt. Wanda Wray kicked off the deployment ceremony by explaining the reach of the command, which is responsible for activities in 20 countries that span an area about 6 million square miles.
She emphasized, however, how critical the span of Fort Knox is to those who deploy.
"Family members are truly the unsung heroes … of every military deployment," Wray said.
Commanding Gen-eral of 1st Theater Sustain-ment Command Maj. Gen. Donnie Walker Jr. said it seemed like yesterday when they were sending off the red team.
"A lot of has happened on the red team's watch and a lot will happen on the white team's watch," he said.
Walker cataloged some of the significant events they encountered during the red team's deployment, such as the liberation of Mosul in Iraq from the oppressive hand of the Islamic State followed by the fall of Raqqa in Syria.
"We've driven ISIS almost to defeat," he said.
He said the white team will continue to execute the red team's planned defeat of ISIS and warned them not to lose focus.
"It's no easy task," he said several times.
At the end of his remarks, Walker reminded Soldiers that the work they do has far-reaching effects.
"Stay focused, enforce standards and be disciplined in all that you do," he said
He also thanked Military families for their courage and sacrifices.
"Soldiers and civilians cannot stay focused on the task at hand if they are worried about what's going on at home … Rest assured, we'll take good care of the troops while they are downrange."
One of those Walker referred to was Staff Sgt. Justin Resseguie. He was leaving behind his wife, Nicole, and four kids, who range in ages from 8 years to 4 months.
Both said the deployment is proving harder this time with the holidays coming up. As a result, Justin said he planned to spend the last few days before the deployment knocking out some Christmas shopping and hanging out with his family.
Nicole said they will try to celebrate Christmas over video chat after he goes. They've used video and letters during past deployments to stay in touch.
"It's more personal than texts," she said.
Justin said he has turned to letter-writing the last two deployments.
"I'm a big writer," he said. "It seems like nobody ever writes anymore."
Nicole said the two older kids understand what's going on but don't realize how long it's going to be. They were at school during the ceremony.
Justin delivered his own brand of reassurance: "I'll be back before I know it."
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