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Blackanthem Military News
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Last Updated:
Dec 3, 2008 - 11:51:18 PM |
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Blackanthem Military News
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| Capt. DavidWeber, a native of Oak Park, Ill., who serves as the division liaison officer with the 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division - Baghdad, sits in the back of a C-12 Huron on his way to visit his son in Mosul June 3. Weber was fortunate enough to hitch a ride with Command Sgt. Maj. John Gioia, the senior enlisted leader of Multi-National Division - Baghdad and the 4th Infantry Division, so he could spend time with his son, who is serving with Multi-National Division - North. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Aaron Rosencrans, MND-B PAO) |
FORWARD OPERATING BASE MAREZ, Iraq - When a father teaches his son how to drive a car with a manual transmission, it usually happens at home in an empty parking lot. A Multi-National Division - Baghdad father however, took it one step further and taught his son in Iraq.
With military Families, it's not every day when a father and son serve together in combat together, and it's less likely they have the opportunity to catch up and do those things parents normally do with their children back home.
Even though they may be separated by distance and areas of operation, the MND-B father, Capt. David Weber, found a way to travel from Baghdad to Mosul just to spend time with his son and even teach him how to "drive a stick" at Forward Operating Base Marez June 3.
The trip was an exciting one for Weber, a native of Oak Park, Ill., who serves as the division liaison officer with the 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, MND-B. All he did was ask the question - and he was able to hitch a ride with Command Sgt. Maj. John Gioia, the senior enlisted leader of Multi-National Division - Baghdad and the 4th Infantry Division, during a unit visit with a battalion that is detached from the division to assist in the Multi-National Division - North's mission on the eastern side of Mosul.
Weber said he knew he was going to be traveling to Mosul for two weeks, but he kept the trip a secret from his son, Pvt. Tim Weber, a native of Gatesville, Texas, who serves as a mortarman with 4th Inf. Div.'s Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, which is currently attached to the 1st Armored Division, MND-N. Tim didn't find out his father was coming to see him until Dave was standing outside his door when he got back from taking a shower after a mission at a Coalition outpost earlier that day.
With wide eyes after the shock of seeing his dad in the unlikely place, Tim was all smiles when he hugged his dad for the first time since October.
"Oh my God," Tim said. "How ... did you get out here?"
Dave explained the process to Tim, and the two immediately started catching up and updating each other on what different Family members were up to back at home.
Without much in ways of entertainment at FOB Marez, the Webers spent most of their time talking about what they've been doing in Iraq, catching up on lost time, enjoying one a bite to eat at the new fast food shop and shopping at some of the locally-run shops on base.
Dave said it was a big surprise to him when he found out his son had joined the Army, but every time he looked at his son, it was apparent he was very proud of him.
"I never expected staying in long enough to have my kids join the Army while I was still in," Dave said. "It wasn't something that ever crossed my mind because I never had much interest in staying in so long."
When Tim was born, Dave had just joined the Army and was actually pulled from his basic training class so he could be there when Tim was born.
"My first day of basic training, I was called into the commander's office to have a talk with him," Dave said. "Immediately, I started thinking about all the stuff I may have done wrong and was worried about what was going on, but he informed me my wife was in labor and was about to have the baby. They gave me a three-day pass to fly to Chicago for his birth."
Even making it to his son's birth was a challenge for Dave. He had just joined the Army and didn't have any money to fly from his basic training post to Chicago, but his chain of command worked out a way for him to make it to his son's birth.
"I was just a new recruit so I didn't have any money," Dave said. "So the rest of the recruits pitched in money for a plane ticket. I flew to Chicago and made it to the hospital 15 minutes before Tim was born."
Now, almost 19 years later, Dave's chain of command helped him reunite with his son, and Tim said he couldn't be happier.
"It's pretty cool to have him out here," Tim said. "I didn't expect him to come all the way out here from Baghdad just to see me. Now I have a day off to spend time with my dad, but I don't know what to do with myself. I'm one of a few privates in my unit, so I'm used to constantly working. It's been nice to have some time to spend with my dad though; I'll take it."
Even though Tim was ecstatic to see his father again after eight months, his dedication to his unit made him feel a little guilty for leaving the rest of his buddies at the COP.
"Initially, I didn't want to leave the COP because I'd have to get taken off the guard roster and someone else will have to take my shift and cover my duties on the ground, but it's worth it," Tim said. "It's not every day you get to spend time with your dad in the combat zone."
Although the trip only lasted a day, the two were very happy to have the opportunity to spend time with each other again.
Dave said it was hard for him to leave his son, be he felt good knowing his son was in the competent hands of his leaders.
Tim said he and his father have been trying to coordinate their leave dates together so they can spend more time together, but Tim's leave dates have not been set in stone yet.
In the end, Tim said the experience of having his father visit him was one of the best gifts he could receive in Iraq. He said it made his deployment and he hopes to one day do the same for his own child later in the future.
Opportunities do not always present themselves to visit Family members in the combat zone, but for those fortunate enough to meet up, it's a precious way to catch up and reconnect with those who are always at the forefront of the hearts and minds of deployed Soldiers all over the world.
ADDITIONAL PHOTOS:
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| Capt. David Weber, a native of Oak Park, Ill., who serves as the division liaison officer with the 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division - Baghdad, hugs his son, Pvt. Tim Weber, a native of Gatesville, Texas, who serves as a mortarman with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, attached to the 1st Armored Division, Multi-National Division - North, at Forward Operating Base Marez, outside Mosul, Iraq June 3. David and Tim were reunited for a day after David hitched a ride with Command Sgt. Maj. John Gioia, the senior enlisted leader of Multi-National Division - Baghdad and the 4th Infantry Division, so he could spend time with his son who he hasn't seen since October. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Aaron Rosencrans, MND-B PAO) |
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| Capt. David Weber, a native of Oak Park, Ill., who serves as the division liaison officer with the 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division - Baghdad (left), spends time catching up with his son, Pvt. Tim Weber, a native of Gatesville, Texas, who serves as a mortarman with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, attached to the 1st Armored Division, Multi-National Division - North, at Forward Operating base Marez June 3. Without much to do for entertainment, the two spent a lot of time catching up on old times and enjoying the time they were given with each other. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Aaron Rosencrans, MND-B PAO) |
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| Capt. David Weber, a native of Oak Park, Ill., who serves as the division liaison officer with the 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division - Baghdad (left), spends time catching up with his son, Pvt. Tim Weber, a native of Gatesville, Texas, who serves as a mortarman with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, attached to the 1st Armored Division, Multi-National Division - North, at Forward Operating base Marez June 3. Without much to do for entertainment, the two spent a lot of time catching up on old times and enjoying the time they were given with each other. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Aaron Rosencrans, MND-B PAO) |
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Comments
john fox
10 Jul 2008, 11:14
Dustin Weber the 16 year old brother of Tim and son to David was killed in
an ATV accident in Gatesville. Both have been sent home to attend the
service.
Dustin Weber
01 Jul 2008, 19:35
OMG i cant believe ur dad Did that! Hope he does not do it to me.
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