HEIDELBERG, Germany -- Sons have followed their dad's footsteps into the military as long as militaries have existed, but in the case of one Heidelberg Soldier, his son followed him to Germany for some rest and relaxation, too.
Spc. Casey Chenault deployed to Iraq in March with his unit, the 1st Battalion, 137th Aviation Regiment of the Ohio National Guard. His father, Master Sgt. Steve Chenault, is the construction operations noncommissioned officer in charge for the office of the deputy chief of staff of engineers on Campbell Barracks in Heidelberg.
Casey decided to take his mid-tour R&R to visit his father in Heidelberg, and his father couldn't be happier. Steve said the best part is just getting to see his son again and show him around Germany.
"I'm just glad to have him here," Steve said. "I'm going to show him around Heidelberg ... I'm going to take him to work with me, show him around Campbell Barracks, take him up to the castle. There's plenty to do around this area."
They plan to take some day-trips around the Heidelberg area, too, and Casey admitted he had no idea what was in store for him.
"I don't know - he made all the plans," Casey said. He bought his girlfriend, Chelsea, an airline ticket so she could visit from Ohio, too.
Casey was quick to acknowledge what he was most looking forward to on this two-week R&R.
"Getting away from Iraq - it's kind of boring there," he said, and then admitted he was also looking forward to spending time with his dad and seeing a little bit of the country his dad has called home for the past two years.
This Chenault father-son duo is just another in a long line of Chenault family members to serve in the military.
"I was proud of him - proud that he went in," Steve said. "My grandfather was in World War I. To see (Casey) keep it going, I was kind of proud of that. I remember my grandfather talking about World War I, and my dad was a Korean War and Vietnam vet."
Casey, who works as an emergency medical technician when he's at home in Chillicothe, Ohio, was stop-lossed by the military in June. He said although his initial enlistment is up, when he gets back after this deployment he'll "probably" still re-enlist.
Steve has spent about 33 A,A1/2 years in the military, first in the Marine Corps and then with the National Guard and active-duty Army.
"I'll probably keep doing it until they tell me I can't do it anymore," Steve said.
While Casey's military career has so far only spanned six years, both father and son agree the best part about the Army is the people in it. In his current job, Steve said he is constantly traveling. He counted about eight different countries that he's worked in during the two years he's been stationed in Heidelberg.
"I guess about the same thing," Steve said about his favorite part of the Army. "That's one of the best things besides me making the trips, the people I work with over at my office at Campbell Barracks. I couldn't ask for any better. They're the best; it's almost like family over there."
The Chenault father and son duo last saw each other in February when both had to take emergency leave to Ohio due to the passing of Steve's father. Both agree the time they will get to spend together in Germany will be a nice break for each of them.
"We're just going to have a great time," Steve said. "The timing is just right, right now, for me to be here and for him to come from Iraq to here, the timing was pretty good."
(Editor's Note: Kristen Marquez works in the USAG Baden-Wuerttemberg Public Affairs Office).
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