| Veterans
News Flash 
Face of Defense: Soldier Follows in Father’s, Grandfather’s Footsteps
By Sgt. Brandon Little, USA
Special to American Forces Press Service
CAMP TAJI, Iraq, Jan.
8, 2008 – When Christopher
J. Forit Jr. decided to follow in the footsteps
of his father and grandfather more than two years
ago, he started a voyage that would lead him halfway
around the world.
 Army
Pvt. Christopher J. Forit Jr., a food
service specialist from Renegade Troop,
4th Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment,
passes a case of drinks to a dining
facility worker at Camp Taji, Iraq,
Jan. 1, 2008. Forit’s family
comprises three generations of servicemembers.
Photo
by Sgt. Brandon Little, USA |
It all began with a
trip to the recruiter’s
office. Forit, now an Army private who hails from
Fresno, Calif., chose to continue his family’s
tradition of military service by becoming one of
the thousands of soldiers who joined a military
deeply entrenched in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"My family really influenced
my decision to join the Army," said Forit,
a food service specialist in Renegade Troop, 4th
Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, from Fort
Hood, Texas. "My
grandfather was an infantryman in the Korean War,
and my dad was the in the Army for a while; he
was stationed in Italy for a few years."
In addition to helping
this 23-year-old make the decision to join the
military, his father and grandfather also influenced
another member of his family to enlist. "My brother, Derek, joined the Army
the exact same day I did, and we even shipped off
to basic training the same day," he said.
Enlisting in the military during a time of unrest
throughout the world, Forit knew his first deployment
would be in his near future, he said.
"When I found out I was coming to Iraq,
I was really excited," he said. "My
family and my fiancee, Chong Lee, were all very
sad I was leaving, but they’re all proud
and supportive of what I’m doing."
Since his deployment to Iraq, Forit has been performing
various dining facility duties.
"He’s a good soldier," said
Army Sgt. 1st Class Christopher Williams, noncommissioned
officer in charge of the Command Sgt. Maj. Cooke
Dining Facility here. "I really think he
has a bright future in the military."
Forit said he plans on staying in the military
for a long time to earn a college degree and that
he hopes to retire as a first sergeant. Many years
from now, after he has retired, Forit said, he
may be able to share his experiences in the military
with his children and grandchildren.
"I think when I look back on my service,
I know I’ll be proud of what we accomplished," he
said. "Sometimes I wish I could do more,
but just being in Iraq makes me feel like at least
I’m doing my part."
(Army Sgt. Brandon Little serves with the Task
Force 12 Public Affairs Office.)
SOURCE:
U.S.
Department of Defense
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