06/16/2024
In the annals of military history, tales of camaraderie and courage abound, few stories resonate as deeply as those of fathers and sons who serve side by side. Such is the case with two remarkable duos currently deployed with the HHC, 1140th Engineer Battalion, where familial bonds intertwine with duty and honor.
Specialist Gene Reeves and his son, Private First-Class Noah Reeves, epitomize the legacy of service. For SPC Reeves, a veteran with over two decades of experience, seeing his son follow in his footsteps brings a profound sense of pride. "I delayed retiring so I could serve with my boy," he remarks, "all of my Soldiers are my kids and now one of them really is!"
PFC Noah Reeves, barely in his twenties, acknowledges the unique dynamic of serving alongside his father. "I had joined for college benefits and the sign on bonus," he jokes. "Though joining seemed natural, like continuing a family tradition." Their shared deployment has forged a bond that transcends the typical father-son relationship, rooted in mutual respect and a shared commitment to their unit.
Across the barracks, another duo, First Sergeant Brad Byers, and Specialist Ryan Byers, bring their own perspective to the unit. 1SG Byers, a seasoned Soldier though new to this unit’s leadership, reflects on the joy of sharing the adventure of this deployment with his son. "I’m always down for an adventure and I know deployments result in people being joined together like a family,” SPC Byers jokes, “we’re ahead of the curve.” 1SG Byers laughed and continued, “it’s very neat he gets to join a part of this larger family we’re going to be a part of."
For SPC Ryan Byers, the decision to join the 1140th was partly inspired by his father's legacy. "I volunteered to deploy with my dad, he’s deployed before and knows what he’s doing," SPC Byers states. "Also, for once I won’t miss him for Father’s Day!”
Even though they are excited to be working together, these father son teams won’t forget about their family at home. The Byers duo talked about their wife and mother they will be separate from for the coming months, when asked about how she reacted to the news 1SG Byers said, “Well! That was an interesting ordeal to say the least when the opportunity to join the 1140th arose, I said well I don’t know what my chances are, a lot of people are interviewing, then I got to join and then I got to train quickly, and then in the middle of starting that I got to tell Mrs. Byers about that, and I need our boy to come too! And she, like all moms, was worried about our kids but it was a considerable consolation to know her boy is going to a great team and we’d be there for each other as well.”
SPC Reeves is serving with one of his six sons total, PFC Reeves being the youngest of them all. Though none of PFC Reeves brothers were worrisome about their father and brothers upcoming mobilization, Mrs. Reeves was not pleased to be saying goodbye to her youngest son and husband.
These small family units will be finding unique ways to celebrate Father’s Day we hope these stories resonate with everyone back home missing their fathers who are traveling with the unit this year.
Happy Father’s Day! ⭐️
35th Engineer Brigade Missouri National Guard National Guard
