Tara family welcomes son, soldier home

TARA — As Greg Younger gathered with family on Thanksgiving Day, the word “thankful” held a new meaning — one he learned since becoming a soldier in the U.S. Army in May.

“You have a different perspective on how to keep things the way they are,” Younger said of being in the military. “You learn the sacrifices people make to keep the country safe.”

Younger returned home from military training on Veterans Day and headed to his new post at Fort Irwin, Calif., with the 11th Armored Calvary Regiment Nov. 30. To celebrate his two-week homecoming, Greg’s mother, Carol, decorated the yard of her Tara home with a “welcome home” banner and lined the flowerbed with American flags.

“I thought it would be nice to have something for (his homecoming); I would have put them all around, but he wouldn’t let me,” Carol Younger said. “Lots of neighbors (stopped by and asked about it). It made me feel good to do it.”

Greg’s return Nov. 11 marked his first time home since putting on his uniform.

“(The sign) was nice to come home to,” said Greg, who lived with his parents for the few months leading up to basic training. “It definitely made me happy to come home.”

Greg Younger joined the U.S. Army in the spring and previously worked at the Autoway Ford in Bradenton as a mechanic.

“Bad economy, better career,” Greg Younger said of why he chose to become a soldier. “I have wanted to go into the military for a while. I just never acted on it. A lot of our family (has served).”

“You’re probably the first one to volunteer,” said his father, Tom Younger. “I was in the Navy during Vietnam. I would have been drafted (when I turned 19), so I joined.”

In May, Greg Younger headed to Fort Benning, Ga., for 10 weeks of basic training before being transported to Fort Knox, Ky., for 15 weeks of advanced individual and other training. At Fort Knox, Greg learned to work on Bradley Fighting Vehicle Systems, a tank-like fighting vehicle used by the infantry.

Since enlisting, Greg Younger has wanted to serve in the Middle East.

“I actually want to be deployed oversees,” Greg Younger said. “It’s an experience you don’t get anywhere else.”

His mom lets out a whisper.

“I don’t want him to get deployed,” she said.

And at least for now, Greg isn’t. In early November, he learned he was supposed to go to Ft. Hood, Texas, and his unit would have been deployed to the Middle East in January. However, because Greg Younger qualified for additional, special training on the Bradley systems, he has since been stationed at Fort Irwin. The unit trains and prepares other soldiers for duty in Iraq and Afghanistan, Greg Younger said.

“It’s a very tough job,” Greg Younger said. “They do a very good job at getting everyone prepared.”

Greg Younger, like his father, said he believes everyone should take the opportunity to serve in the military.

“I’ve had people come in to basic training — they had no common sense; they didn’t know how to grow up,” Greg Younger said. “When they left, they understood how to be an adult. Training is hard mentally and emotionally.

“When you go to basic training, you lose everything,” he said. “They give it back to you a bit at a time. It makes you more appreciative of what you have.”

The experience also gives one a tremendous sense of accomplishment and pride of country, Greg said.

Greg’s parents said they could not be more proud of their son or happier to have had him home for the holiday.

“I’m proud he’s in the military,” Tom Younger said. “I had no trepidation at all. I served, and I know what it does for you. (Greg) has done real well since he’s been in there.”

Upon his return home, Greg Younger worked with the local Hometown Recruiting Assistance Program. Because Greg was selected to help with HRAP, he did not have to take any leave time and now also may be able to come home for Christmas and New Year's Day.

Contact Pam Eubanks at [email protected].