Photo By Bradley Clark | Mortarman team leader, Sgt. Joseph Hussey, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd...... read more read more
By Spc. Bradley J. Clark
4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division
MOSUL, Iraq – Many Soldiers join the military to follow in a family member's footsteps, but with the pace of deployments in today's military, troops often spend more time away from family than they do with them.
For some Soldiers in the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, deployments can actually bring family members closer to each other.
First, there's the Aderholds.
"Our unit has been really helpful in giving us time to spend together," said Spc. Bernard Aderhold, signal support non-commissioned officer in charge, B Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment.
Specialist Aderhold is currently deployed with his father, Sgt. Bernard Aderhold, team leader, A Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment.
"We started working the issue when he was in (advanced individual training) to try to get us together," said Sgt. Aderhold.
"I was originally supposed to be stationed at Fort Riley, Kan., but my dad was able to get me to Fort Bliss, (Texas)," said Spc. Aderhold.
"I went and asked (Command) Sgt. Maj. (James) Pippin if my son could be in the unit," said Sgt. Aderhold. "After he gave me the okay, I asked his branch manger and it was a done deal."
Even though being deployed with a family member could make some people worry more than if they weren't deployed together, Sgt. Aderhold has some advice for anyone in this situation.
"You have to let him do his job," said Sgt. Aderhold. "You have to remember, he was trained just like I was, let him do his job. And don't try to smother him either," he said with a laugh.
While being deployed with your child can be worrisome, Sgt. Aderholt's advice rings true.
"I just go out there, do my job and make sure I get back safe," said Spc. Aderhold. "My family doesn't worry as much now because they know I'll be alright."
While Ninevah province has seen its share of husband and wife teams it surprisingly has seen a decent amount of the uncommon parent and child teams.
The Husseys are another family deployed together.
Even though it's rare enough to be stationed with a family member, let alone with your mother or father, the Long Knife Brigade has taken family deployment up a notch and added the unlikely duo of twins.
"It's kind of weird because the only other time we were together was in basic training six years ago," said Sgt. Joseph Hussey, mortarman team leader, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment.
Joseph's brother, Sgt. Michael Hussey, is also in the Long Knife Brigade doing the same job as his twin, except instead of being with the 2-7 Cav., Michael is with Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, currently stationed at Forward Operating Base Sykes, in Tal 'Afar, Iraq.
"This is our second deployment for both of us," said Joseph. "Our mom is worried about us, but our dad is a lot happier because we can keep an eye on each other."
The 1-9 Cavalry moved to Forward Operating Base Sykes in August, but before that, they were stationed with the 2-7 Cavalry on Forward Operating Base Marez, in Mosul, Iraq.
"When his unit was still here, we got to see each other every day," said Joseph. "We went to chow together and always hung out together."
The leadership in the unit was always willing to find time to get the brothers together whenever possible.
"My first-line supervisor would make sure I had time off to spend with my brother," said Joseph.
Spending time with family can make the deployment go by a lot easier.
"My brother is a pretty funny guy," said Joseph. "Whenever he came around we always had a good time. That definitely makes time fly over here."
As their deployment nears the end, the Husseys, like the Aderlholds, will soon be spending a lot more time with each other and the rest of their families back home.
While deployments can be difficult on Families, these Soldiers showed that being there for each other and doing the jobs that they love to do was all that they needed to make it through an extended deployment, which made their already bonded relationships even closer to one another.
| Date Taken: | 10.19.2007 |
| Date Posted: | 10.19.2007 10:21 |
| Story ID: | 13113 |
| Location: | MOSUL, IQ |
| Web Views: | 339 |
| Downloads: | 320 |
This work, Deployments are family affair for Cavalry Soldiers, by Bradley Clark, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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