Two Soldiers with the 34th Red Bull Infantry Division at Contingency Operating Base Basra have managed to avoid either situation from coming true.
Sgt. 1st Class Michael Norton, operations noncommissioned officer-in-charge of the engineer cell of 34th Red Bull Infantry Division, is a school teacher and coach from Ogilvie, Minn. when not in uniform. There were some familiar faces among the many students who passed through his classroom during his years of teaching.
“I taught all my children,” said Norton, who teaches business and computer classes and coaches women’s basketball at Ogilvie High School.
Norton’s son, Staff Sgt. Christopher Norton, ammunition noncommissioned officer for 34th Inf. Div., took keyboarding and computer classes with his dad. Christopher said it was good having his father for a teacher, but it was a little awkward at first.
“I didn’t know whether to call him ‘Dad’ or ‘Mr. Norton,’ Christopher said. “I think I finally settled on ‘Dad’ because it just seemed weird to call him ‘Mr. Norton.’”
Michael said he usually stayed one step ahead of Christopher while teaching him. “I knew about things like parties that were going on before he did!” Michael said with a grin.
Mr. Norton the teacher has also been a Soldier in the National Guard for nearly 33 years. Despite his length of service, this deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom is his first.
“Joining the Guard in 1976, deployment was never a thought,” said Michael, whose daughter, Hannah, also deployed to Iraq in 2004. “I joined because I wanted to serve. I joined with a couple of buddies who got out a long time ago, and I just stuck with it.”
Though his father has been in the National Guard since before he was born, Christopher said that isn’t the reason he joined.
“I didn’t get to see a whole lot of his career,” Christopher said. “The most exposure I got to his service was an occasional (annual training) family day.” Christopher said his decision to join was an independent one.
“I decided to join at the end of my junior year (of high school),” he said. “I knew I had to pay for college somehow.” Christopher actually deployed to Iraq before his father. He arrived here in August 2008 as a volunteer with the 34th Combat Aviation Brigade. He said he decided to extend his deployment when he learned that his father was coming.
Michael said he is pleased to have his son here. “It’s unique that you can serve with your own son.”
Though both go out often on missions, they take whatever time they can to spend together outside of work.
Christopher said that he enjoys being able to see his dad after he finishes his day. They spend time together at Michael’s containerized housing unit talking and catching up with each other. Michael has also toured Christopher’s living quarters.
“I live in a coffin,” Christopher said. “He came over with me to check it out the other day.”
As Father’s Day approaches, both are thankful that they will be together, which hasn’t always been the case.
“I’ve missed many Father’s Days for AT,” said Michael. “I’m thankful that I’ll have my son with me for this one.”
Christopher said he has big plans for his dad for Father’s Day.
“I’m taking him out to dinner,” he joked. “We’ll go to either the (dining facility) or maybe Echos!”
CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE BASRA, Iraq – Many kids go to school every day knowing they won’t see their parents until it’s over and they have returned home. Most Soldiers who deploy to Iraq do so knowing they, too, must say goodbye to family.