SOUTHWEST ASIA --
Deployed accommodations have
changed drastically in the last 30 years. In the 80’s and 90’s handwritten
letters and rooms filled with payphones were the only ways to communicate with
loved ones from home.
“When I went to Desert Storm the first time, we got
our phone call home and we were in country almost a week,” said Tech. Sgt.
Michial Smith, a 386th Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron Aerospace
Ground Equipment technician. “It was a 3-minute morale call and you waited in
line for it. I actually got a letter home before that call.”
Spending time away from loved ones during various
holidays throughout the year can take a toll on deployed Service members. When
Michial could make phone calls home, he would not have much to say. Instead he
would rather listen to his 5-year-old son talk.
“That was the biggest thing and he told me about
playing with the dog or playing with his toys,” said Michial.
In 1992, Michial chose to put his military career on
pause and began driving a truck to support his family.
Years passed by and Michial’s children grew into
adults and began families of their own, but the military was still close to his
heart. He was proud and loved to serve his country and after seeing his son
struggle he wanted to pass the opportunity to him.
“When I was going through dark times in my life and
had a dead-end job, three kids and a wife, and nowhere to go, [my dad] came out
of nowhere and said you need to talk to a recruiter,” said Senior Airman
Brandon Smith, a 386th EMXS AGE technician. “[My dad said] you need to get
yourself a trade and that would be easiest way to get it. I know you can do
it.”
Brandon took his father’s advice and talked to a
recruiter. What Michial did not know was his son also talked to the recruiter
about him reenlisting in the military.
“We were sitting in a bar having a drink because it
was [my son’s] birthday and that’s when he told me ‘dad, I’m going to be going
into the service,’” said Michial. “I said well, you know if I was young enough
and I could still get in, I would do it.”
Brandon informed his father that due to serving 10
years on active duty allowed him to reenlist. Michial could not believe what he
was hearing. A chapter of his life he thought was closed forever was about to
reopen.
Both father and son submitted their paperwork to
join the military. Michial was able to retrain from ammunitions into AGE and
was in the technical school when he received a phone call from his son.
“’Dad I’m in basic training,’” said Michial,
recalling the phone conversation. “More than that, we’re going to be stationed
together and we’re going to be in the same shop together.”
More years pass by and the father and son duo had
the opportunity to deploy together.
Michial never thought in a million years he would be
able to deploy with his son, let alone spend Father’s Day with him in Southwest
Asia Since they work opposite shifts, both father and son will keep their same
work-rest cycles, but they will make time to spend time together on Father’s
Day, even if they just sit around and talk.
“This is one of the highlights of my career, being
able to be here with [my son],” said Michial.
A father and a son deployed together, spending
Father’s Day together is a rare moment, but one both will cherish.
“I understand where he has been and as a father
myself, I have a lot more respect for him now than I ever did and a lot more
understanding for him teaching me how he did,” said Brandon. “Above all, I love
him to the fullest and I couldn’t ask for a better father.”