CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait - There is no greater bond shared than that of a mother and her child. This is certainly true with Lt. Col. Glenda Steward, the Third Army deputy director of intelligence and her son, Chris Steward-Blakely, a 2010 graduate from the United States Military Academy at West Point, N.Y.
Chris decided at an early age he would follow in his mother's footsteps. He dedicated his life to the Army after graduating high school. He is currently attending the Infantry Officer Basic Course at Fort Benning, Ga. Chris wants to one day be Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Where did he get his dedication and motivation' Look no further than his mother.
"Seeing my mom as an officer in my early years made my decision an easy one," said Chris. "That's when I decided to start gearing my life to becoming an Army officer."
Steward, a native of Dallas, Texas, attended college at Prairie View A & M, located in Texas. She won a scholarship while in college and decided to join the Army to serve her country. Steward wanted to serve only until she attained the rank of captain and move on.
It wouldn't be easy.
She was a single parent with a two-year-old son. His father had just passed away. She remained committed though and completed the Officer Basic Course. Steward was then immediately deployed to Kuwait in support of Operation Desert Storm. Steward's own mother kept her son while Steward fulfilled her military duties.
"I knew my mom would take care of Chris," said Steward. "But the fears of being separated and not knowing when I would return were very difficult."
During her deployment, Steward had to balance being a new mom with being a new officer in the middle of a war zone. She was learning how to be a leader in the sands of Saudi Arabia while learning to be a mother separated from her child for the first time. During her deployment, Steward missed her son's second birthday.
Through it all, she remained committed to her son.
"I wrote letters to him as often as I could," said Steward. "I even snuck a few morale calls with the help of a coworker."
She couldn't do it on her own.
"My mom and my sisters helped a lot," said Steward. "I relied heavily on my family and faith in God."
Through it all, she maintained her commitment to both her service and her family.
Twenty years later, Steward is stationed in Kuwait. After meeting her personal and professional challenges head on, she now ensures Third Army meets its challenges in the same manner. Even with email and Skype and all the new communication technologies, she still takes the time to write hand-written letters to her son.
Her goals have now changed to retiring as a colonel or brigadier general. She wants to continue in her career but looks forward to the day she can retire. But even in retirement, her commitment to her son will not waiver. She says she likes both Texas and Kansas, but will live near her son for support if needed.
Steward's commitment during her 20 years of service to her son and her career is evident. Her mother, Theresa Steward, couldn't be prouder.
"It was not easy getting to where she is," said Theresa. "But one thing is certain; her heart is in everything she does. And that's why I know that both Chris and the Army are in good hands with her."
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