SAVANNAH, GA (WTOC) -
As the 3rd Infantry Divisions's headquarters cases it colors signifying the beginning of its deployment overseas, Sgt. Maj. Craig Muerer knows he won't be far behind.
He'll soon be leaving on his third deployment, this time to Afghanistan. On the same plane will be his son, Spc. Chaz Muerer.
"It's very special. It's going to be make this deployment different than any other deployment I've had," Muerer said. "I'll be able to have my son with me. It's an extreme honor to not only go and serve my country in combat, but also to have my son with me."
"I don't plan on getting any special treatment - no kind of favoritism - just because my dad is in fact in the same country that I am [and] in the same unit," son Spc. Chaz Muerer said.
Sgt. Maj. Craig Muerer works in the Army's Intelligence Division at Fort Stewart. His son Spc. Chaz Muerer works as a paralegal in the legal division.
This will be Spc. Chaz Muerer's first deployment overseas. His father said it almost didn't happen. "Initially from the age of 13 to 16, I was kind of trying to push him towards the Army. He really didn't want anything to do with the military services," Muerer said.
Then his son changed his mind. "I told him I was going to be joining the Army. It sounded like he did back flips on the phone," said Spc. Chaz Muerer.
Now the two prepare to say goodbye to their family and focus on the mission at hand. "It's amazing! It's a big honor. A very rare, unique opportunity," Muerer said. "I think it's going to be really good to know that my son is OK and [to] put eyes on him every day."
"I will know, no matter what, I'm going through over there during the entire year, I will never be alone," Spc. Chaz Muerer said. "I will always have one person who has my best interests at heart. Because he's not only a sergeant major in the Army, he is also my father."
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Sgt. Maj. Craig Muerer
Spc. Chaz Muerer
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