Father's Day will sting a bit for the Williams family this year, but Angie Williams will begin Father's Day like she begins every morning.
Every morning Angie Williams, mother of six, gets out of bed, makes breakfast for her children and then prays for both her husband and daughter to return safely from Afghanistan.
I say again: she prays for both her husband and daughter to return safely from Afghanistan.
Six months ago Angie's husband, CW3 Paul C. Williams gave his wife some bad news. Not only would he be deploying overseas for the second time, but he would take his daughter, Spc. Kristin Elizabeth Lozano a communications specialist in his unit, with him.
"It was kind of a shock when I first heard about it, but I've gotten used to the deployments by now," said Angie Williams.
The father and daughter team belong to the 344th Tactical PSYOP Co. (Airborne) based out of Texas who deployed to Afghanistan in March.
"I work in HQ as the assistant S6," said Lozano, "I don't see my dad often, but we stay in contact and I talk to him daily."
Lozano goes on to explain how different the experience has been with her father around.
"This is a really neat experience being deployed with my dad, but also a difficult one. I am fortunate to have him close and to be able to speak with him from time to time," said Lozano. "I know other Soldiers do not have that. I am proud to be here with him."
Williams on the other hand, was a little more torn about having his 20 year-old daughter deploy with him.
"Having her here is a catch-22," said Williams, "I'm very proud of her for her decision to enlist, but as a father I also worry about her safety. She is a smart young lady and Soldier and I know she will do great things for her company and the Army."
Williams is the first warrant officer to ever be commissioned into the Psychological Operations community. Psychological Operations have been a part of U.S. military operations since the American Revolution, but until Williams, no warrant officer has ever stood in its ranks prior to 2007.
Following the terrorist attacks on New York and the Pentagon, PSYOP Soldiers like Williams deployed almost immediately to begin their role in the hunt for international terrorists linked to the Al Qaeda network.
Despite his accomplishments in the PSYOPs community, Williams is first and foremost a father, who worries about his daughter and wife.
"My wife, Angie, is a wonderful woman. I am a teacher and coach in my civilian job. This, with my military career, keeps me away from home quite a bit," said Williams. "We have six children, and I can honestly say there are times that she is a single parent. She does a great job, and I'm fortunate to have her as my wife."
Lozano worried more for her mother who is not only responsible for taking care of her other siblings and the household, but also cares for her three-year-old son.
"For Father's Day I will be able to call and email my dad, He is a wonderful leader both here and back at home and I don't worry about him. But being away from my mother and son is far more difficult," said Lozano.
So Father's Day will indeed be a little different for the Williams family this year.
There will be no Father's Day brunch, lunch or dinner. No waking-up and planting a kiss on dad's scruffy face. There will be no gifting of bad neck ties or white t-shirts to add to the Father's Day collection.
This Father's Day, Angie Williams will get up early as she always does, make breakfast for her children and say a little prayer for both her husband and daughter to return safely from Afghanistan.
As for the father-daughter duo, when asked what they would be doing for Father's Day this year, both surprisingly replied with the exact same answer: "Carry on with the mission."
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