Like Father, like Sons

Photo By Staff Sgt. Raheem Lay | From left to right, Sgt. 1st. Class Douglas McArthur Feazell, 1st Sgt. Curtis Earl Feazell and Sgt. 1st. Class Kenley Earl Feazell will be deploying with the 155th Brigade Combat team from Miss. Curtis, the father of Kenley and Douglas has been in the Miss. National Guard for 36 years. Because of his patriotism, leadership, and commitment to himself and his family, his two sons look to carry on that tradition and hopefully pass it on to their families. Although each of these Soldiers is a veteran of war, this deployment is set to be their most memorable one yet.  

CAMP SHELBY, UNITED STATES

05.28.2009

Story by Staff Sgt. Raheem Lay 

Camp Shelby Joint Forces Training Center

CAMP SHELBY, Miss. - A Mississippi National Guard father and his two sons will deploy to Iraq in a couple of weeks with the 106th Support Battalion, 155th Brigade Combat Team out of Monticello, Miss. Traditionally many sons have followed their father's footsteps and for the Feazells, that tradition is considered one of the most honorable decisions each of them have made, next to serving this great nation in the Army National Guard.

1st Sgt. Curtis Earl Feazell is the father of Sgts. 1st Class Kenley and Douglas Feazell. Curtis has been a member of the Mississippi National Guard for over 35 years. His desire to pursue a military career was motivated by being a positive influence for his children.

"I joined the military primarily for structure and leadership characteristics," said Curtis. "My children's life and how they viewed their father was very important to me at the time and still is today."

Curtis joined the Army National Guard in the summer of 1974. Since then, he has been deployed three times. Although deployment is nothing new to this veteran, this time is a little different. Curtis said that he can still effectively contribute to the military in more ways than one. And with both Kenley and Douglas by his side during battle, Curtis feels that this is an experience like never before.

"I am very thankful for my boys," said Curtis. "Understanding what we as a military are up against overseas, what an honor is to serve my country with two of my most precious gifts I have in the world."

Aside from being the father; Curtis is also the 1st Sgt. to his younger son, Sgt. 1st Class Douglas McArthur Feazell, a full time Active National Guard employee with the Headquarters Company 106th Support Battalion. Douglas is the Readiness Non Commission Officer for the unit and is now preparing for his second deployment with the Miss. National Guard. Douglas says that the military along with his father's guidance has helped him to build character, and positive leadership skills.

"If it wasn't for my father, I don't know if I would have ever appreciated the military as much as I do now," said Douglas. "My dad would always share with us the experience and benefits of being in the army. At a very young age, I knew that my career choice was going to be the military.

As for Sgt. 1st. Class Kenley Earl Feazell, his second tour of duty will be at a separate location from his father and brother. However, Kenley says that he is still thankful to have two important men in his life, fighting the same fight. Kenley also says that his father played a significant role in his life and his decision for making a career out of the Mississippi National Guard.

"My father has always been the male role model in my life," said Kenley. "He never forced me to join the military part-time or full-time." Kenley is also a full-time Active Guard Reserve employee for the Mississippi National Guard and has been so for six years. "When I joined the National Guard, my father was already a first sergeant. His commitment to the Soldiers and the military as a whole inspired me to join and become a part of such a great tradition."

Kenley will soon have a degree in accounting, he is also a 1999 Class 41 Officer Candidate School graduate here at Camp Shelby. Kenley plans to pursue an Officer Commission with the Army full-time. Both Kenley, 34, and Douglas, 31, worked hard to move up the ranks at a rapid pace. Their father could not be any more proud of his two sons. Curtis believes that each generation should be reared in such a way that it produces a better life than the previous generation.

"I look at my sons with great appreciation and admiration," says Feazell. "I never wanted or asked for them to be like me, I prayed that they be better than me ... to raise their families better than I raised mine, this is what parenting and fatherhood's all about."

Both Kenley and Douglas had similar thoughts to share.

"Regardless of where life takes me and what success I pick up along the way, I owe it all to my father," says Kenley. "There is no way I would have made it this far without his support, guidance, and advice. He is my hero, and I can only hope that I am raising my three boys with the same passion and toughness that my father raised me with."

"I would definitely agree with my brother," said Douglas. "My father is to our family, what he is and has been for over 30 years in the Army National Guard; the backbone. He spent his entire military profession taking care of Soldiers, and my brother and I had so much respect for that. We wanted that same fulfillment and appreciation, only full-time. Call it cliché but it's like the old saying 'Like father, like son.'"

• Date Taken: 05.28.2009
• Date Posted: 05.28.2009 16:59
• Story ID: 34232
• Location: CAMP SHELBY, US