Army News Service | August 02, 2005

BAGHDAD, Iraq - A father and his two sons each follow their "call to duty' and serve in the same unit. Chris Cartwright, his older brother John Cartwright Jr., and their father John Cartwright, are serving in the Army Reserve in Troop F, 278th Regimental Combat Team, and are deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom III.

Growing up, the boys often went to drill weekend with dad. Years later, they have grown up to be noncommissioned officers themselves - Chris a sergeant, Junior a corporal - and dad is now their first sergeant.

Both sons enjoy working with their father despite the good-natured ribbing they endure for being the first sergeant's kids.

Junior is stationed in a different area because the unit does not want all the family members serving in the same area for security reasons. But that doesn't mean he is exempt from the teasing.

The family is used to working with each other. Their father owns a construction and contracting business in their hometown of Bristol, Tenn. He employs Chris and works with Junior whenever the job permits.

"They've been working with me since they were boys," John said.

Chris, who enjoys working for his father said, "It helps bring us closer together."

John has been in the Army for 35 years and has been with the unit 25 years, making him the longest-serving member of the troop. He sees his whole troop as family.

John's wife is a little worried about them all being deployed together, but as he says, "There is not much she can do about it."

This is the longest Junior has been away from his father and brother.

The brothers don't worry about being in danger so much but their father is a little worried about his boys.

"It's a lot harder on me, being a first sergeant and a father, than it is on them," John said. "I haven't run into it yet, but it could be hard sending my boys out on a dangerous mission."

"He couldn't keep me off a mission if I really wanted to go out," Junior said. "I'm going out one way or another."

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