Been here, done this - except that Dad retired the day I joined, allowing as to how the Army (then twice the size it is now) wasn't big enough for the two of us.
By Combined Joint Task Force 82FORWARD OPERATING BASE SHARANA, Afghanistan - Besides the 100 or so Soldiers in the company 1st Sgt. William Schaad leads, he has another Soldier who he worries about and cares for, Pfc. William Schaad. The Schaad father and son team, from Callaway, Neb., are serving simultaneously in two different theaters of operation.
First Sgt. Schaad leads a company of Sapper Engineers in the 70th Engineer Battalion, out of Fort Riley, Kan., that clear roads of improvised explosive devices and mines on the rugged terrain of Afghanistan.
His son repairs communications equipment for 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, out of Fort Benning, Ga., and is currently stationed at Forward Operating Base Hammer, Iraq. The father and son aren't the first in their Family to serve their nation. First Sgt. Schaad's father served during World War II, as part of the force that occupied Japan.
Although grandfather Schaad, 81, no longer carries the American flag as he did for many years in the Family's hometown Memorial Day parade; he had the opportunity to travel to Washington, D.C., on a fully paid trip to honor WW II veterans with a trip to the WW II Veteran's Museum and the White House.Though Pfc. Schaad only has been in the Army for 16 months, he knows more than most privates. His father, a 20-year veteran, has taught him some lessons that it takes most Soldiers many years of experience to learn, he said. "My dad taught me that 'things change fast, be flexible,'" said Pfc. Schaad in an e-mail interview. "Any struggles I have come across, he has
dealt with them before, and can always help me through them. I joined the Army to better myself and gain experience."First Sgt. Schaad said he influenced his son to join the Army by telling him "only that it would hold some good opportunities for him. "He was on and off about it for about three years," 1st Sgt. Schaad said. "When he finally decided to join, I was in Iraq, and he e-mailed me asking advice on what military occupational specialty I thought was right for him to choose. I feel that overall my military career gave my son several opportunities that most will never experience in their lifetime. He is only adding to those unique experiences that only about 1 percent of the American population ever can say 'I understand some of the things you have gone through.'
"The Army has changed a lot since I first joined," 1st Sgt. Schaad said."When I was a Pfc. back in 1976 we were wearing fatigues and had tan khakis for a B uniform. We were just starting the Noncommissioned Officer Education System after the Vietnam War and were deeply involved in Cold War training. (We) had the immersion heaters in the field to try
to keep the mess kits clean. We had C Rations instead of Meals Ready to Eat. (We) had the old steel pot with helmet liner."Even though the Army has changed quite drastically since 1st Sgt. Schaad's induction in 1975 or moreover, since his father's tour in Japan during WW II, one thing remains the same, Pfc. Schaad said he is serving proudly to protect their nation's freedom and provide a good life to
their Family.In just a few weeks, Pfc. Schaad will join his dad as a proud father. His wife will give birth while he is on mid-tour leave in Kansas. "We will have a great Father's Day, just a few days late," Pfc. Schaad said. "I don't think that there is a father that is more proud than I," 1st
Sgt. Schaad said. "I was at his graduation ceremony from basic training. I will never forget them saying the Soldier's Creed to complete the ceremony. I am a proud father." he concluded.
