By NANCY MONTGOMERY | STARS AND STRIPES Published: February 17, 2021
VICENZA, Italy — Capt. Joe Behrendt was a week into live-fire exercises with the 173rd Airborne Brigade on a cold December day in Germany when he got the news: pack your stuff, you’re deploying to Somalia.
Three days later, he and more than 100 fellow paratroopers were on the ground in Djibouti, tasked by U.S. Africa Command with providing crisis response during the withdrawal of 700 U.S. troops from Somalia, a move ordered by the outgoing Trump administration.
“It speaks volumes about our readiness and ability to adapt,” said Behrendt, commander of Company C, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment.