NCO sets example for young troops

Photo By Sgt. Marshall Thompson | Sgt. Robert Durant, a laundry, bath and textile specialist from Detachment 2 of the 506th Quartermaster Company, checks out the shower tent before opening it for the male showering hours at Camp Hit on March 12.  

CAMP HIT, IRAQ

03.30.2006

Courtesy Story

207th Public Affairs Detachment

CAMP HIT, IRAQ - Sgt. Robert Durant could hardly believe it when he heard his wife was in labor with their first child about three months ago.

"When I found out she was in labor, I was kind of in disbelief. It still hasn't hit me yet," said Durant, a laundry, bath and textile repair specialist at Camp Hit from the 506th Quartermaster Company.

When Durant left for Iraq about five months ago, he and his wife knew that he wasn't going to be there for the birth. Durant said they were prepared for this kind of situation and that made it a little bit easier.

"I just look at it as part of life," Durant said. "Like my first sergeant said, "anyone who enlisted or reenlisted after Sept. 11 knew the possibilities of deployment.""

Durant's first sergeant, 1st Sgt. Hillerson Peterson from Detachment 2 of the 506th Qm. Co., said that Durant was an exemplary NCO.

"Sgt. Durant, in my opinion, is one of the â?¦ NCOs that I think leads by example," Peterson said. "He's young in age and time in grade, but his professionalism and care of Soldiers is like he's a senior NCO."

Although it's been hard for Durant to be away for the birth of his daughter, Nashira Ayanna Lynn Durant, he's been able to help his Soldiers through similar trying experiences.

"He's such a great leader," said Pfc. Dennis Ford, a laundry, bath and textile repair specialist with the 506th. "My wife was pregnant and had a miscarriage and he was there for me."

Ford said that he and Durant went to church often and prayed together about the miscarriage. He said that as he and Durant talked about it, he was able to gain a good perspective.

"He made me look at it on the bright side," Ford said. "He said things happen for a reason."

It's no wonder that Durant and Ford were able to work through a tough situation.

Peterson said that Durant is constantly available to his Soldiers.

"He's someone they feel comfortable talking to on a daily basis," Peterson said. "I think they see Sgt. Durant as an NCO who cares about his Soldiers and is very mission-focused."

Durant, who was originally a fuel supply specialist, had to learn the laundry and bath mission for this deployment.

"It's easy once you learn the system," Durant said. "Once you get into the system and you know how things work, then you're a bit more confident in the job."

The Soldiers and Marines who get a warm shower and clean laundry from the 506th are thankful for Durant's dedication to his job.

"It's important because it gives guys morale. If you haven't had a shower or clean clothes in a while, you feel a little depressed," Durant said. "I know for me, when I get a shower and clean clothes, I feel refreshed."

Durant said he recently reenlisted for a few more years in the Army.

"I did it because I was looking to make the military a career, the opportunity to meet different people and travel to different places," Durant said.

Although he likes meeting new people, he's already planned out his leave for when he'll see faces that are more familiar.

"I've planned it all out," Durant said. "The first thing I'm going to do when I go on leave is hug my wife and just hold my baby for a while."

• Date Taken: 03.30.2006
• Date Posted: 03.30.2006 08:03
• Story ID: 5900
• Location: CAMP HIT, IQ