CAMP TAJI, Iraq (Army News Service, Aug. 17, 2007) - For the Day family, military service is a family tradition - and has been since the Revolutionary War. In all, the family's time of military service totals 175 years.
The family tradition continued here Aug. 6 with the reenlistment of Spc. Darries Day, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd "Spearhead" Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division.
Spc. Day's father, Lt. Col. Patrick Day, an OH-58 Kiowa pilot who commands the U.S. Army Aeronautical Services Detachment-Europe in Heidelberg, Germany, issued the oath of enlistment via video teleconference while his mother, Sharon, looked on.
Spc. Day was the first in his family to deploy to Iraq, adding Operation Iraqi Freedom to the long list of conflicts the Day family has supported.
"If Iraq is where the Army says he can make the best contribution, then that is where he needs to be," Lt. Col. Day said in an email. "Our Family has served in every branch of the service and has fought in our nation's wars from the Revolution to the French and Indian War to the American Civil War, both World Wars, Korea, Vietnam, Grenada, Kosovo, Afghanistan and Iraq. When the nation calls, we step up and answer the call."
Spc. Day said he was inspired to join the Army by his father, whose most recent deployment was to Afghanistan.
"I told him I was going to join the military, and he really helped me get started," Spc. Day said.
"I swore him into the Army back in 2004 when he enlisted, and I was proud to be able to do it again," his father said. "Technology is making all kinds of things possible."
Lt. Col. Day and a tearful Sharon seemed proud on the plasma TV screen that made it possible for them to be present at their son's reenlistment.
"First and foremost I am proud of what he is doing for his country," said Lt. Col. Day, a 26-year Army veteran who served eight-and-a-half years in the enlisted ranks. "During a time when such a small percentage of the U.S. population gives any type of service to their country, enlistment and reenlistment in the armed forces is something to be very proud of."
As part of his reenlistment incentive, Spc. Day will go to Germany to be near his parents after his deployment to Iraq ends. He discussed the reenlistment with his wife, Tasha, who is caring for their two children Caleb, 4, and Ashton, 2.
"My wife is happy; she's really happy," Spc. Day said. "The Army has made it possible for me to take care of her."
Lt. Col. Day said he looks forward to his children and grandchildren moving to Germany.
"I think any opportunity to serve in Europe is great and having Family close by is an added bonus," he said. "I am a little envious since it took me 25 years to get here, and he'll make it here in his first five years. There is so much to see and do, and I'm glad he and his Family will have a chance to experience it all."
(Sgt. 1st Class Rick Emert writes for the 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, Public Affairs.)
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