Father Promotes Son During Surprise Visit
(March 7, 2011) |
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| KANDAHAR, Afghanistan (Mar. 3, 2011) – Getting promoted is
an honor in itself; it's the next step in a soldier's career
and one step closer to becoming a leader. |
Chief Warrant Officer 4 Shawn Blood, supply and services officer in charge, 528th Sustainment Brigade, United States Army Special Operations Command, made a surprise visit March 1,
2011 to Camp Nathan Smith, to promote his son, Pfc. Casey Blood, military police officer, 511th Military Police Company, 504th Military Police Battalion, to specialist. |
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As special as it is to get promoted by Army
leadership, it's even more special, not to
mention sentimental, to be promoted by a father.
That's exactly what happened March 1, when a
father made a special trip to Camp Nathan Smith
to promote his son to specialist.
“Having my dad pin me at my promotion was
incredible,” said Spc. Casey Blood, military
police officer, 511th Military Police Company,
currently attached to 504th Military Police
Battalion while deployed. “I never thought it
would happen, especially here in Afghanistan.”
When not deployed, the 511th MP Company is
attached to the 91st Military Police Battalion,
16th Military Police Brigade out of Fort Drum,
N.Y. |
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“Being able to promote my son was a once in a lifetime
opportunity,” said Chief Warrant Officer 4 Shawn Blood,
supply and services officer in charge, 528th Sustainment
Brigade, United States Army Special Operations Command. “It
was like I was passing on the torch of the future of the
Army to my son.”
Spc. Blood's first sergeant e-mailed
CW4 Blood before the company's deployment and has stayed in
contact since. It was because of these e-mails that this
unique promotion ceremony was able to take place.
“I
found out that CW4 Blood was coming to Kandahar – which was
around the time Pfc. Blood was going to be promoted – so I
coordinated to get him to CNS,” said 1st Sgt. Joel Zecca,
511th MP Co., attached to 504th MP Bn.
Zecca added,
“A father promoting his son is such a rare opportunity; I
thought it would be a great moment for both of them.”
After being promoted, Spc. Blood reflected on the bond
between him and his father.
“My dad has always been
proud of me, but him getting the chance to pin me was
something that bonded us in a unique way,” said Spc. Blood.
CW4 Blood echoed his son's sentiments, adding that,
although he and his son had always enjoyed a great
relationship, being able to share the battlefield promotion
ceremony with each other added a new level and strengthen a
bond to a relationship that can never be broken. |
Article and photo by Army Pfc. Nathan Thome
1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division Public
Affairs
Copyright 2011 | |
Provided
through DVIDS
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