41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team

Story by Spc. Cory Grogan

On Father's Day, Spc. Andrew Davis, a mechanic with the Oregon National Guard's 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team's 2/218 Field Artillery Battalion, wished his father a 'Happy Father's Day' in Kuwait.

Spc. Davis and his father Sgt. 1st. Class Dennis Jewell are one three sets of father son combinations in a battery of around 100 Soldiers.

The family ties add to the closeness that the battery shares as they balance professionalism with their personal relationships.

Sgt. 1st Class Jewell, who has raised Spc. Davis since before he was two-years-old, joins fathers Sgt. 1st Class James Smith and Sgt. David Cotton, and their sons, Spc. James Smith and Pfc. Michael Cotton.

The fathers and sons are experiencing a range of emotions that include pride, nervousness and comfort that go along with having a family member with them in a combat zone.

Spc. Smith recently went out on his first convoy security mission and Sgt. 1st Class Smith said "I try not to think about it too much, but I know he's had some great training; he's an alert, smart kid."

The fathers who have served for many years in the active duty military and the Oregon National Guard are of aware of how special their situation is. Sgt. Cotton said he appreciates having someone to talk to about family matters, and that it gives him peace of mind.

The situation can be a little conflicting for Pfc. Cotton who said he is used to saying dad or pops, but now he has to remember to call his father Sgt. Cotton.

For the sons, a big part of the reason they joined the military is because of the way they grew up.

Sgt. 1st Class Jewell has always been a mechanic and served in the Marines for 16 years. He said that being in charge of Spc. Davis, who became a mechanic to be in the same unit with his father, gives him a real sense of pride.

"Growing up, all my childhood, he has always been working on vehicles and I used to go around on his shoulders while he was working," said Davis.

All of the fathers promoted the military to their sons for life skills and educational purposes. Being able to watch their sons serve has added to the pride they have for their service.

Sgt. 1st Class Jewell mentioned that when Spc. Davis graduated from infantry school in Fort Benning, Ga., he was the only one in the audience with the Class A military dress uniform on. The infantry does a blue cord ceremony for graduation and he took off his blue cord and put it on Spc. Davis. Davis then did the same and put his blue cord on his father's uniform.

"I was a proud dad that day. [I] will never forget that day," said Jewell.

All Soldiers share a special bond, and that bond is strengthened in the National Guard with people who have served together for many years. In the Oregon National Guard brothers and sisters, husbands and wives, and fathers and sons also serve together.

The fathers and sons from alpha battery provide a unique example of the close knit relationships that define these Soldiers who serve their state and country, and this year's deployment will be a unique and special experience for them.

"He will introduce me as his son and people are like what no way,and then we come to Alpha Battery and there are two other father son combinations and like wow what are the chances that were all in the same unit and then we deploy together Its amazing and really cool.

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