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Father-son pairs serve together in SC National Guard

  • Published
  • By Specialist Adam Dean
  • CONR Public Affairs
SAVANNAH COMBAT READINESS TRAINING CENTER, Ga. --  From fraternal bands of brothers to the parental role of drill sergeants during boot camp, service members have always considered each another family.

For several Soldiers in the South Carolina Army National Guard's 2nd Battalion, 263rd Army Air and Missile Defense Command, the bonds are not just figurative, but tied together by bloodlines. The Anderson-based unit boasts three separate father-son pairs within its ranks.

Both Lt. Col Doug Dimond and his son, Capt. Brian Dimond, believe the strength of family bonds in the 263rd exemplifies one of the key strengths offered by the National Guard in general - an unparalleled sense of camaraderie within a unit.

"One of the not-so-common things about the Guard is that we are a big family and we don't do a lot of changing of stations like the active duty force does," said Colonel Dimond. "Staying in one place allows us to work better, and I think work more efficiently as a team."

"We're a big family in every sense of the word," added Captain Dimond, referring to their unit.

The younger Dimond said he believes that it is important for him to treat his father just as he would any other colonel, tempering his desire to make his father proud with the knowledge that his first and foremost mission is to carry out his orders as he would for anyone else.

Echoing that sentiment, 263rd AAMDC 1st Sgt. Donald Thompson said it's a pretty special thing to be able to serve alongside and work with his son, Specialist Dallas Thompson, but he has to make sure he stays out of the way of the non-commissioned officers in charge of his younger progeny.

"I have to pay special attention that I don't show him any favoritism," said the first sergeant. "If anything, I'm going to pick him more for details and things of that nature, and I'm going to task him more, just so that it is not conceived by any other Soldier that there's any favoritism there."

Thompson went on to say that his firmness continues at home, and he expects just as much from his son outside the drill hall as in it. While the young specialist acknowledged that his father is sometimes harder on him than on other soldiers, he looks at his father as a mentor, and is grateful for the direction and discipline he has passed along to him.

"When things start to get rough and I start to get tired, I know I'm not here by myself," said Specialist Thompson. "I'll always have at least one person I can come and talk to, and I know he'll always listen."

Being that both Thompson men are in the same unit, they are often away from home at the same time, and the elder of the two said that it sometimes can be hard on his wife.

Sgt. Robert Denhartog has similar thoughts about his mother when he and his father, Sgt. 1st Class Jonathan Denhartog have to travel on temporary duty. However, he also thinks that in the long run, his mother can make a difference in her own way.

"It can't be easy on her when we're both deployed," said Sergeant Denhartog. "I don't have my own family yet. I live in the same city in same neighborhood as my parents and my father and I are part of the same unit. The family support system is strong now and will grow stronger, knowing that any future wife or children that I have will have my mother for support, and vice versa."

All the sons agreed that it would make them proud to see their own children someday follow in the footsteps of their shared family heritage and become members of the Guard, if not the 263rd.

All the fathers agreed that it was important to let their sons make their own choices and choose the military for themselves. They said they didn't push their sons in any particular career path, but tried to model favorable behavior toward their sons through their actions.
"In terms of pressure to come into the service, I never did that," said Colonel Dimond. "I tried to exhibit those qualities and instill in (him) that the Guard is an avenue he can take if he decided to take it."

While Sgt. 1st Class Denhartog said he avoided pushing his son in the direction of the military, he did supply him with information and guidance that might help him make a more informed decision.

"If I pushed him in any direction it was more for the educational benefits, said Sergeant Denhartog. "There's an opportunity that you can do an enlistment in the Guard and take advantage of some great educational opportunities."

But in the end, according to Sgt. Denhartog, it was his father's actions that taught him important lessons that would lead to his desire to serve.

"The biggest thing I learned from him was the importance of serving your country, serving your state, your community, constantly doing something to better how other people are living -- whether it's keeping them secure, keeping them connected, or keeping them fed," said the younger Denhartog.