Soldiers Keep Up Family Tradition
(May 22, 2009) |
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Army Spc. Allen Heredia, left, and his son, Army Pfc. Steven Heredia, share a moment together on Camp Liberty, Iraq. |
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BAGHDAD, May 18, 2009 – A father and son
serving together in Multinational Division Baghdad on Camp
Liberty, Iraq, epitomize their family's tradition of
service.
Army Spc. Allen Heredia is a military police soldier with
the 810th Military Police Company, Task Force 91 Military
Police, 8th Military Police Brigade. His son, Army Pfc.
Steven Allen Heredia, is a supply specialist assigned to the
MP brigade's Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 93rd
Military Police Battalion.
Both father and son feel strongly about their family's
military history; five generations of Heredia men have
served in the military since the Spanish-American War.
Steven Heredia said he's always known he would follow the
family tradition.“Joining
the military is something that I always wanted to do,” he
said. “Since I was a child, I have never thought about doing
anything else. My father was never overbearing about my
decision to join the Army; he always told me it was my
decision to do whatever I wanted to do in life.” |
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The elder Heredia was born in Bronx, N.Y.,
and joined the Army in 1977, as an infantryman so he could
stay off the streets at a time when gangs, drugs and
organized crime were at their peak. He was hanging out with
the wrong crowd, he said, and could see that if he continued
on that path it would lead him nowhere. He served six years
in the military and received an honorable discharge in July
1983.
“I regret ever getting out of the Army,” he said. “It was
one of the best things I have ever done and enjoyed doing.
So when terrorists attacked the Twin Towers on Sept. 11,
2001, I felt compelled to do what was right and rejoin the
U.S. Army.”
But it wasn't that simple; he was too old at the time to
join the military. After waiting for four years, he was able
to join an Army Reserve unit in Tampa, Fla., in July 2005.
The Heredias both said that being stationed at the same
installation in Iraq is one of the best things that could
have happened, since they live in different parts of the
country back home.
“We see each other at least twice a week and speak to each
other every other day on the phone,” the father said. When
they have time, they enjoy having lunch together.
Also, Allen Heredia said, he doesn't worry about his son
much now, because he is able to see him every week.
“I am proud of both of my kids; they are the pride of my
life,” said the elder Heredia, whose daughter also serves in
the Army. “The only thing I would do to change this whole
situation would be that I would have loved to work with my
son and go on missions together.” | |
By Army Sgt. Carlos Valdez
Multinational Division Baghdad with the 93rd Military Police
Battalion, 8th Military Police Brigade
Special to American Forces Press Service
Copyright 2009
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