A Father's Legacy
(June 23, 2010) |
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Command Sgt. Maj. Michael S. McCoy (right), the
top noncommissioned officer of the 4th Infantry
Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, out
of Fort Riley, Kan., stands with his daughter,
Jessica. McCoy says that his children are his
legacy and there's no greater joy than being a
father. (Courtesy photo) |
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TIKRIT, Iraq (June 20, 2010) – Soldiers deployed to northern
Iraq with the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry
Division, are spending Father's Day away from their loved
ones this year.
However, the love that ‘Dragon' brigade fathers feel for
their children is unbreakable despite the distance
separating them from their Families.
According to Command Sgt. Maj. Michael McCoy, the top
noncommissioned officer of the ‘Dragon' brigade, it's
important to make time with your children and let them know
that they are loved and appreciated.
“I've learned through my time in the military that you have
to make time for your kids and when you do, you have to make
sure it's quality time,” said McCoy.
“No matter how tired you are or what the weather's like
there's always something that can be done with your
children, and I value that every |
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day,” he added. “I'm just proud to know that I
have two wonderful children. I appreciate them
and they appreciate me, I know they do. I think
every father should appreciate their children
because they carry on our legacy and that's what
I have from my legacy – my two children.” |
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Sergeant Michael Daugherty of Jonesboro, Ark., an engineer
with Alpha Company, 4th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, is
on his third deployment to Iraq. He says that the hardest
part about being a Soldier and father is not always being
around to see his children grow.
“It's hard not being around to see them grow through their
different stages of life,” said Daugherty. “Sometimes, I
worry that there might be times when they won't recognize
me.”
However, the most fulfilling part about being a father for
Daugherty is having someone to take care of and giving his
daughter, Gabrielle, 1, and his son, Michael, 7, something
to look forward to.
In addition to getting married and joining the military,
Staff Sgt. Adam Treen, a combat engineer with Co. A, 4-1
BSTB said becoming a father was one of the best things
that's ever happened to him.
“I remember holding him at just a minute old and saying,
‘Hey, chief.' That was the first thing I ever said to him,”
said the Ohioville, Pa., native about his son, Max. “He was
just this little, tiny thing and now he's turned 11 and he's
four foot nine. He's turned into quite the young man.” |
Sgt. Joshua Cookson, a geospatial
noncommissioned officer with Headquarters and
Headquarters Company, 4th Infantry Brigade
Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, out of Fort
Riley, Kan., sits with his daughter, Raven, and
son, Jacob. Cookson has been in the military for
eight years and is currently on his third
deployment to Iraq. (Courtesy photo) |
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“It's one of the greatest feelings to have,” said Sgt.
Joshua Cookson, a geospatial NCO with Headquarters and
Headquarters Company, 4th IBCT, “being able to be a parent
and being able to have someone who looks |
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up to you.” Cookson, a father of three and a native of
Holyoke, Mass., who is on his third deployment to Iraq, said
the first time he became a father was one of the proudest
moments in his life.
“I was TDY at the time and I came back,” he recalled of
the birth of his 4-year-old son, Jacob. “I was able to go |
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Sgt. Joshua Cookson olds his
8-month-old son, Clay. (Courtesy photo) |
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back home for a week on leave. I got there a few
hours after he was born, my wife was asleep and
he was lying in the crib next to her. I was
actually afraid to touch him – he was so tiny.
It was just a feeling of pride being able to see
that I helped to create him, and I was looking
forward to being able to raise and teach him. I
was looking forward to just being able to be a
dad.” |
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By Army Sgt. Shantelle Campbell
4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division
Copyright 2010 | |
Provided
through DVIDS
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