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HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan - I've had many unique experiences
during my three deployments. As a public affairs noncommissioned
officer, I've written about Soldiers who have served with their
family members downrange, but I never imagined that I would ever be
serving in a combat zone with one of my children.
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From left, U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Todd Pouliot and his son U.S.
Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Andrew Pouliot, a landing specialist
assigned to Combat Logistics Battalion 6, enjoy some time together
at Forward Operating Base Shukvanni in Helmand Province, Afghanistan
on August 26, 2013. Lance Cpl. Pouliot manages passenger movement in
and out of the base. (Photo courtesy of U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Todd Pouliot)
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The horrific events which led to Operation Enduring
Freedom unfolded before my son's eyes one morning 13 years
ago when he was a fourth grader preparing for school and a
phone call prompted his mother to turn on the TV. The two of
them saw the first World Trade Center Tower in flames and
soon after, a second airliner slamming into the second
tower. From then on he said he remembers constantly being
interested in the news and what was happening in
Afghanistan.
In 2005, when I decided to reenter the
Army, my son Andrew took a keen interest in the history of
the units and bases I would be assigned to. I didn't realize
it when he was growing up but he told me recently he had
wanted to join the military for many years. He said he was
drawn to the U.S. Marine Corps at the age of 17 when a
Marine recruiter called him and invited him to visit his
office. Andrew said he was captivated by the notion of
earning the mythical status of becoming a U.S. Marine and he
decided to enlist because of the values and honor of being a
Marine, and because no one else in the family had done it.
It was then when I probably
should have considered the possibility of both of us being
deployed to Afghanistan. Soon after high school graduation,
Andrew left for boot camp June 21, 2010, exactly 22 years to
the day I shipped out to U.S. Army Basic Training.
Throughout boot camp he would listen to his drill
instructors talk about their experiences in combat in places
such as Fallujah and Ramadi during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Hearing about their experiences made Andrew want to deploy
and experience the military operations he had been hearing
about most of his life.
“I wanted to do something
for my country, something that would set me apart from
everyone else,” he said in an email.
Upon completion of
his military occupational specialty training to become a
landing support specialist, he was assigned to a Marine
Reserve unit in San Jose, Calif., where there were no
deployments on the horizon. When volunteers were sought to
augment active duty units, Andrew would let it be known that
he was ready and willing to deploy, but he was repeatedly
denied. Finally, a spot for him became available in 2012 and
he would deploy with Combat Logistics Battalion 6 from Camp
Lejune, N.C.
Before I visited him at his base in
August, my son and I had not seen each other since Christmas
2012. Soon after, he left for Camp Lejune to prepare for his
scheduled deployment. I deployed to Bagram Airfield in May
and a couple months later Andrew deployed to Helmand
Province. I remember once he arrived in theater, sharing
notes with him on our new common experiences; the transient
tents, the chow halls, the passenger terminals. After a day
of regular email messages, I became quite worried when I
didn't hear from him for a mere 24 hours. It turned out he
was catching up on sleep after his long flight.
Needless to say, I can empathize with families back home.
At his base, an undulating patch of sand and rock with
broad views of the surrounding desert and distant villages,
Andrew is responsible for ensuring that passengers flying in
and out of his base are properly manifested and escorted to
and from their aircraft. When I visited him I was very proud
to see him perform his duties with passion, professionalism,
and discipline. As a father, I was also pleased to see how
well he got along with his colleagues and how he interacted
with fellow Marines and passengers who stopped by for
assistance.
In a conflict where there are no front
lines, a certain amount of danger exists no matter where one
is in this area of the world. Naturally, it is difficult
knowing that my son may be in harm's way. I try not to think
about it. But when I do, I consider that he's doing what he
is doing for similar reasons that I am. And that helps me
accept it.
There is a unique bond between those who
have deployed to war zones such as Afghanistan. Veterans may
try to talk about their experiences to those who have not
deployed but there is a particular ease when sharing
experiences with someone who has also been there. My son and
I will now always have that bond.
There are no
civilian-contracted dining facilities at the base my son
works. Instead, in a relatively small tent, a handful of
Marines are tasked with cooking and serving hot meals at
breakfast and dinner; meals-ready-to-eat are available for
lunch and midnight meals. Cold showers are taken in another
tent. But despite the meager conditions, Andrew said he
loves being out there and hopes he can stay there for the
remainder of his seven-month deployment. He enjoys the
camaraderie among those with whom he serves; one of his
favorite activities out there is “family dinner night” when
one of his fellow Marines cooks marinated chicken on an
improvised barbecue.
I am extremely proud of my son's
decision to serve in the military. I had no say in what
branch he should choose and I will not disclose what I would
have chosen for him if I had. Despite being a U.S. Army
Soldier, myself, I am proud of his decision. But most of all
I am proud of his passion for what he is doing.
By U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Todd Pouliot
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2013
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