Iowa National Guard father and son deploy to Afghanistan

Photo By Capt. Peter Shinn | From left, Pfc. Brady Pugh, Monica Pugh, Staff Sgt. Eric Pugh, and the Pughs' youngest son, Ayden.  

CAMP DODGE, IOWA, UNITED STATES

07.28.2010

Story by Capt. Peter Shinn 

734th Agri-Business Development Team

CAMP DODGE, Iowa -- You could say serving their country is a matter of family pride. Staff Sgt. Eric Pugh and his son, Pvt. First Class Brady Pugh, of Winterset, Iowa, are both deploying soon for a year to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

The elder Pugh is going as part of the Iowa National Guard's 734th Agri-Business Development Team. He's the ADT's forestry expert, and will help the Afghan people and Afghan institutions improve woodlands and orchard management. The younger Pugh is going as part of the headquarters element of the 1-113th Cavalry, which is deploying with the Iowa National Guard's 2nd Brigade Combat Team.

Eric Pugh volunteered for the ADT mission last year. He knew that Brady might be deployed during the same time period.

"I told my wife after I got asked to be part of the ADT, 'If I do this, I’ll bet Brady will refuse to be left behind,'" Pugh said. "And sure enough, he waivered his ‘college first’ agreement when his unit was activated and volunteered right after I did."

But according to Brady Pugh, he had reasons of his own for volunteering for service in Afghanistan. "My grandfather fought in Korea and I grew up a Guard brat,” he said. “So when I heard the [cavalry] was going, I had to do it. The fact that my dad was going at the same time was just extra motivation."

Of course, having one family member deploy with the military can be stressful. But what about two family members at once? Monica Pugh is dealing with that reality right now.

"Having my husband and son deploy at the same time will be the most difficult trial I have ever faced," Mrs. Pugh said. "But no matter how angry or sad or lonely I'll feel at times, I would never forgive myself if I was selfish and stood in the their way," she added. "And I want more than anything to experience the joy of their homecoming, and stand in honor, knowing I did my best here at home."

The Pughs recently celebrated their twenty-fourth wedding anniversary. And Eric Pugh credits his wife for making his service in Afghanistan, and his son's, possible.

"Without Monica, this deployment just couldn't happen for us. " he said. "She is as much a part of the Army as any of us."

The mission of the 734th Agri-Business Development Team is to protect the people of Afghanistan by improving their food security.

• Date Taken: 07.28.2010
• Date Posted: 07.28.2010 13:12
• Story ID: 53553
• Location: CAMP DODGE, IOWA, US