Texas Father And Son Reunite In Afghanistan
(August 25, 2010) | 
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Army Sgt. 1st Class Marc Seal, left, stands with
his son, Army Pfc. Nolan Seal, at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, Aug. 9,
2010. Courtesy photo |
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FORWARD OPERATING BASE GHAZNI, Afghanistan, Aug. 23, 2010 – Army Sgt. 1st Class
Marc Seal returned here Aug. 13 from a five-day mission that began cloaked in
secrecy.
The mission for Seal -- an infantry squad leader assigned to the Texas National
Guard's agribusiness development team -- was known only to him and his command,
and was kept secret for a special reason.
His mission was to track down and surprise his son, Army Pfc. Nolan Seal, a 4th
Infantry Division infantryman, who had just arrived in Afghanistan.
Marc, a decorated combat veteran on his fifth deployment since 9/11 and his
third deployment to a combat zone, has served on active duty and in the National
Guard for 16 years. His son decided to carry on the family tradition last year
when he joined the Army. He is assigned to 1st Battalion, 66th Armor, out of
Fort Carson, Colo. |
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The elder Seal found out his son would be deploying to Afghanistan early this
year. He decided not to take the standard two weeks of leave that is afforded to
every soldier deployed to a combat zone in hopes that he could spend some time
with his son when he arrived.
As soon as his son landed in Afghanistan, the planning began.
Army Command Sgt. Maj. Jeff Mayo, the agribusiness development team's command
sergeant major, contacted Nolan's battalion and worked with Army Command Sgt.
Maj. Martin Kelley and Army Command Sgt. Maj. Gerald Kinloch to make the mission
possible.
The trip started with Marc “bumming” a ride on a Black Hawk helicopter bound for
Bagram Airfield. He then talked his way onto a flight to Kandahar Airfield,
landing there before sunrise.
Kelley made sure Nolan would still be in Kandahar and available for his father's
visit. Marc was escorted to a tent where he woke up his son and received a big
hug in return.
The two spent the next 36 hours talking about home, training and what lay ahead
for the young soldier as he started his first combat tour. They were able to
share a dinner together and enjoy some shopping at the post exchange.
Marc, whose tour ends in mid-October, said he was sad to leave his son and
return to Ghazni, but was grateful for the opportunity.
“Nolan will be forever changed by his tour in Afghanistan, some good and some
bad,” he said. “But no matter what, he will never be that little boy I used to
know.”
Marc Seal said he's proud of his son and also recognizes what having both
husband and son in a combat zone means for his wife, Suzanne. When asked how she
felt having her husband and son in Afghanistan, she said, “It's a strange mix of
pride and horror.” | |
By Army SFC Ross Dobelbower
American Forces Press Service
Copyright 2010
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