Son follows father’s footsteps to Falujah,Iraq

CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq (26 Nov 05)-- The bonds between a father and son are strong, but for a father and son stationed in Iraq, those bonds have grown even stronger throughout their deployment here.

Master Sgt. Joseph P. King, operations chief, G-6, II Marine Expeditionary Force (FWD), and his son, Lance Cpl. Jared D. King, rifleman, 4th Marine Expeditionary Brigade (Anti-Terrorism Battalion), are stationed in separate locations in Iraq, however, the Jacksonville, N.C., natives, maintain constant communication. The pair has crossed paths to see each other twice in the past few months.

The elder King arrived in Iraq in mid-January, and his son arrived late August. Initially, both had diverse feelings about their new adventure in the Middle East.

“In the beginning I was worried about him being in Iraq,” said the 19-year-old son. “Now things are different and calmer.”

Joseph says he worries about his son as a father, but as a Marine he is confident in Jared’s ability to perform his job well.

“I worry about him; then again there is a different war going on now,” said the 43-year-old father. “I still worry about the potential of something happening while he’s on post, but this is what he chose to do. If anything happens to him I’ll be there in a hurry.”

Joseph entered the Marine Corps on Dec. 7, 1981, and like many military parents, spent much of his time on deployments or training exercises.

“He wasn’t around too much when I was growing up,” said Jared, who is on his first deployment. “He was always on ship, training or at a different school, but we pretty much lived a normal life because we understood his job.”

Although he led a busy life, Joseph left an inspiring impression on his son. Twenty-three years after he joined the Corps, his son Jared stepped on the same yellow footprints and crossed the same parade deck as his father at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego.

“It was the same place I went,” said Joseph, father of three. “With the possible closing of San Diego [recruit depot] he may be the last in the family to walk the same footsteps I did.”

Before he left for boot camp, Joseph prepared his son for what he might encounter during training.

“I took him out to the range when I was stationed in Quantico, Va.,” said Joseph. “He shot the M-16 rifle and learned the basic firing positions. Before boot camp he went through the tan belt course with me; he had his belt before he went to the Depot.”

Already confident in himself, Jared was determined to fill the same ranks his father did. With his father’s influence, Jared enlisted and programmed his mind to stay a Marine for 20 years.

“I didn’t know what else I wanted to do with my life,” said Jared. “I knew the Marine Corps lifestyle because of my dad and how everything basically worked.”

Both father and son agree this deployment, as unique as it may be, has brought the
two of them closer.

“I think we have a better understanding of each other,” said Joseph. “He knows
why I did what I had to do by being gone on deployments all the time. Now I look at him and see that he’s the same I was at his age. Whether he does 20 years it’s up to him.”

Even though Joseph was pleased his son entered the prestigious club he calls the Marine Corps, he maintains the unbreakable bond as son and father.

“He still treats me like a son, not a Marine,” said Jared jokingly. “He’ll chew me out if he did, but our relationship is more respectful now. I want to stay in and do the whole 20 years. I want to follow in his footsteps.”

Both Kings will return to North Carolina by the end of March. Jared is expecting his first child, King’s first grandchild, by March. Jared says he’ll be lucky if he can make it home by then.

Both agree they are lucky to be able to see each other. Among the tens of thousands of service members throughout Iraq who are missing their families, are those lucky few who have relatives close by.

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