My son, Cedric Hearn Jr., made it clear to me during his senior year of high school that the military was not on his radar. However, one year after graduating from high school in Columbus, Ga., my son called me from Maryland and asked me about the military. He wanted to know what I knew about all branches. I found the conversation a little unusual, but I was excited.
“I am giving you my son”
In May of 2016, a few months after that conversation, my son enlisted into the Maryland Army National Guard as a 31 Bravo (military police). I later found out that the first sergeant of his recruiter was someone I had worked with in recruiting in Georgia approximately 12 years prior.
Shortly after enlisting, then-PV2 Hearn decided to return to Georgia to attend college the year following training. He would leave for basic and AIT at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., for over five months of training. During his wait, we contacted the Georgia Army National Guard for transfer options. We were told he had to complete his training before he would be eligible for an interstate transfer.
The Atlanta Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) allowed him to courtesy ship from their site to basic training, which was in lieu of him returning to Maryland to ship to training. When that day came, it was to my surprise that the person at the Atlanta MEPS who assisted with processing my son to leave for basic was the same person who enlisted me into the Georgia Army National Guard 13 years prior. He was my recruiter. Imagine the feeling that swept over me as I saw my son leave for basic from MEPS, knowing he had already crossed paths with people who were instrumental in my own career.
In February of 2017, my heart swelled when I attended my son’s graduation at Fort Leonard Wood. I thought I was going to burst when I heard my son, PFC Hearn, say his name and where he was from. My Family now has the honor of a third-generation military member. My father retired from the Air Force in 1981 after serving 26 years, and the month following my son’s graduation would mark 20 years of service for me.
Soon after my son’s return home, we began the process of completing an interstate transfer to Georgia. He was assigned to the 170th MP Battalion, which housed the recruiting office where I joined in 2004; his readiness NCO is one of my former recruiting battle buddies. Additionally, I also knew his new unit’s commander who was once assigned to my last unit, the 648th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade.
In April of 2017, we got a call that his transfer had been completed and that he needed to come to the Clay National Guard Center, Georgia’s National Guard Headquarters in Marietta, to swear in. I accompanied him because I also had paperwork to sign for my retirement. The whole way there, I could not contain my emotions because I felt like I was passing the torch to my son to carry. As we walked out of Clay, we ran into his new commander, whom I was happy to introduce to my son. I told him, “I am giving you my son.”
The following month was my last in the Georgia Army National Guard, and my unit held a retirement presentation for me. In attendance were my son, mother, sisters and friends.
As I stood before the formation to say my goodbyes, and to leave a word of encouragement, I struggled with my words the minute my eyes found my son standing in the front row of formation looking back at me. I told everyone my tears were of joy because seeing my son standing so proud and tall reminded me that he would be just fine. The Army National Guard is going to take care of him, just the way they took care of my Family and I for many years.
All of this is not by accident; I believe my son’s steps have been ordered by God. Never in a million years would I have imagined that all of the training I have received, the jobs I have held, the opportunities that came my way, the places I have been and the people I have met would one day prepare me to provide guidance to my son in his military career.
My son will carve his own path, but it is a great feeling to know that he will always have help – a footprint.
BY SGT Nerita H. Davis (Ret.)
