Floyd joins 155th Guard unit just as father, grandfather did at age 17
Published Thursday, July 28, 2005
NATCHEZ - Footsteps of Floyd men were often marked at the 155th Mississippi National Guard Infantry. Now Clay Floyd is marking his footsteps on the concrete path to the 155th building in Natchez.
Red-haired and freckled-faced, Floyd, 17, joined the family tradition of hometown military men. Both his father and grandfather at the age of 17 joined the 155th. Sam Floyd Jr., Clay's father, is currently serving a term in Iraq, missing his son's senior year at Adams Christian County High School.
"The only thing he doesn't like is not being home," Floyd said of his father's time in Iraq.
Floyd said he misses his father but understands the patriotic duty his father wants to accomplish.
"It's always been we live in a land that's free and that's great. I just want to give that (freedom) to someone else," Floyd said.
Almost a hundred bald eagle statues decorate Floyd's bedroom, gracing the walls and shelves; it is evident he has more than a bumper sticker love for his country. Floyd said his patriotism helped drive his desire to join the National Guard.
"It's a way to serve. It's more a patriotic thing than anything," he said.
Although Floyd just joined the military with a small chance of being stationed in Iraq with his father, he said he would like to go to Iraq -or any other county for the war effort-before he has children.
Floyd is experiencing what a family goes through when a relative is off at war in a foreign land.
"I've seen (Floyd and his sister Beth) both cry. I've seen them both miss their father," Floyd's mother Julie Hedger said.
When her son first mentioned being interested in the military, the only response from Hegder was "no." Blindsided by her son's interest, she said she didn't even want to imagine war coming close to Clay.
"That's a mother's worst fear. I told (Clay), 'I'm not mad, I'm worried.' You worry about your children even when they go to McDonald's," Hedger said.
But with time and serious thinking, Floyd's interest became a definite decision. Despite motherly worries, Hedger had no choice but to support her son's first footstep to the world of adulthood.
"You have to look down the road for them," she said, taking a quick glance at her son. "I can talk about it now and not cry."
Floyd's mother won't be the only one in the house missing him; Beth said she will also feel lonely when it's time for him to leave.
"I missed him when he went on a church trip for eight days," she said.
Hedger said she realizes that military aid is needed, but still wants to keep her family safe from that danger.
"We need the military, but a lot of people don't realize it's hard on the families back here," she said.
Although Clay never played army games, teams and sports have been significant parts of his life, Hedger said. The moment Clay came home from the hospital, father and newborn watched a baseball game on TV. Hedger said Floyd, who's involved in basketball, baseball and football at Adams County Christian School, embraces teamwork and had imaginary friends to prove it.
Recruiter Sgt. 1st Class Marcus Paridon, who worked with Floyd's grandfather, said he has seen teamwork and dedication in the young man in just a week's time.
Floyd, who's been promoted to private first class for recruiting two friends to join the 155th, brought another friend to the 155th Tuesday after football practice.
"He's been promoting the Guard for me. I think it's because he feels so strong about the decision he made," Paridon said.
Paridon said he also sees determination and heart in the 17-year-old.
"With his father serving in Iraq and knowing it's hostile, he knows that there's a possibility he will be sent there. That shows a lot (of his character) for me," Paridon said.
Floyd's father left Beth and Hedger two dog tags before he left for Iraq. He left his son a coin with a blue strand circling around the frame marked with the 155th seal and military symbols.
"(My father) just wanted to give me something too,"
he said.
Floyd will leave for basic training June 2006, studying to be a telecommunication specialist and later to Mississippi State University
for Sports Medicine.