NATCHEZ — When National Guard Sgt. Clay Floyd ships off to Iraq this summer, he’ll be leaving his home — but not all of his family.

Clay and his father, Sgt. 1st Class Sam Floyd, are both in the National Guard’s 1st Battalion 155th Brigade and they’ll be deployed to Iraq together later this year.

“I’m looking forward to it, but I’m a little nervous and a little anxious,” Clay said watching baseball with his father. “I’m not looking forward to being away from home.”

Both said they’re glad to be able to serve with each other.

Sam said he passed up the chance to retire so he could have the opportunity to be deployed with his son.

“It’s not something that happens very often,” Sam said. “And I want to be there.”

Sam and his son are both fulltime guardsmen, but Sam has about 20 years more experience on the job than his son.

And while the two won’t be working side by side while in Iraq, they do have a common goal.

“We just want to get back home safe when it’s over,” Sam said.