CNN iReport

By Spc. Evan D. Marcy

44th Expeditionary Signal Battalion

CAMP VICTORY, Iraq -- Making the commitment to support and defend the Constitution of the United States is something that has been done generation after generation in the Steel family.

This year, while on his first deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Sgt. Dante Steel, 319th Military Intelligence Battalion from Fort Bragg, N.C., reunited downrange with his father, 1st Sgt. Demetrius Steel, Company B of the Mannheim, Germany-based 44th Expeditionary Signal Battalion, who is on his fifth deployment.

"He is a fourth generation Soldier, so that's what makes it all important," Demetrius said. "The progression of being a Soldier in our family goes all the way back to the world wars, and he's just carrying on that torch of tradition within our family." 

Dante's grandfather was an Army officer in Vietnam, and six of his children have or are currently serving in the Armed Forces.  Two of his siblings are Navy Corpsman and one of Demetrius' brothers is getting ready to go to Afghanistan, and his sister just separated from the Army. 

"We influenced each other to continue to do well and to serve our country. You think Steel, you think military, that's how it's always been and hopefully that's how it's always going to be," Dante said. 

Although serving in many different areas, the Steel family has been able to reach out to one another for personal and professional guidance.

"It's like being able to go to a brother or sister, and then turn around and go to them as a noncommissioned officer or as an officer; as Soldiers we share that bond because we're real tight within our family, and we use that to our advantage," Dante said. "It really helps me out, being able to communicate with my father like that, especially us being deployed together. 

"He's just a phone call or an e-mail away, and then he can give guidance as a first sergeant to me as a buck sergeant.  It impacts my Soldiers, my job and career progression. It comes from my father, my uncle, my grandfather, and we all talk and it's great to share that bond with them."

Dante works as a human resources specialist for his battalion. His duties include administrative work along with being on the battalion's convoy team which goes on logistics missions, delivering equipment and personnel to other out sites. 

"I worry about it every time he goes outside the wire, and I make sure that as soon as he gets back in that I'm his first phone call," Demetrius said. We still have that father-son relationship. Either way, I still have trust in him, his NCOs and his leaders that he's going to be alright. Senior Soldiers take care of junior Soldiers, so I have faith in the system, faith in him, and it works out fine."

The physical attributes shared between father and son is apparent to anyone who sees the two together. Aside from the similar glasses, similar posture and similar looks, the two speak the same.  They both come across straight forward, energetic and friendly.

"You have to raise the spirits of the people around you.  The ability to successfully motivate Soldiers is the definition of leadership," Demetrius said. 

When asked about his own motivation, Dante gave credit to his father and other sources. "A lot of it was inherited from him, and a lot of it was from other NCOs that I've had in my last units."

Demetrius is known for his speed in the 44th. He credits being able to run fast by simply doing it every day it. 

"He's a natural runner," Dante said of his father. "I'll get him one day when he's retired, old and when his knees are about to buckle."

Dante grew up in Fayetteville, N.C., near Fort Bragg, where his father spent 16 years with the 82nd Airborne Division.  The value of service was instilled at a young age for Dante. "He knows what it's like to hear a cannon go off in the morning," Demetrius said. 

When Dante was young, he would put on his child-size Army uniform and go to work with his father. When he was around 10 years old, he would go out on mornings when he didn't have school, and do PT with the unit.  "We used to run down ‘long street' and anybody that's been on Bragg, is familiar with ‘long street.' I've made that hilly run plenty of times," Dante said.  "My dad bought me kid-sized PTs, and I'd just go out there and do PT with him just to run around."

Times like that had an effect on Dante's move toward joining the military.

"Every little thing like that has influenced me in joining the military, and it's made it all worthwhile." Dante said. "I don't look back on anything and say I wish I didn't do this; I love every part of it, it's awesome."

Dante originally joined the Reserves, later switching to active duty once his unit was mobilized. He is currently working on his college degree in human resource management. 

Like many young Soldiers, Dante is not sure if he is going to make a career out of the military. "I would have no complaints about doing 20 years, it just all depends on what life has to offer me," he said. 

When asked if he had intended for his son to join the military Demetrius explained, "you want your kids to go to college, go out there and work in society with the freedoms we're supposed to protect."

"He elected to join and be a protector, which does make it better, for me, in a personal sense. I'm proud of him, very proud of him, especially for being a Soldier and accepting the challenge and doing what he's doing for this global war on terrorism."