Deployed and connected: Nevada Air Guardsman visits son overseas

Published Nov. 4, 2015
By Master Sgt. Paula Macomber
152nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- It was a case of perfect timing.

Chief Master Sgt. Tom Glover, a loadmaster for the 152nd Operations Group, was deployed to Southwest Asia, the last deployment of his career. His son, Army Pvt. Colter "Colt" Glover, of the 1-87th Infantry, 1st Battalion, 10th Mountain Division, was on his very first deployment of his career.

Both met up in Southwest Asia during the first week of September.

It all started when "Colt" joined the Army earlier this year and got to his duty station at Fort Drum, N.Y. He received news that he would be deploying in September.

When Colt told his father, Tom, Tom was already scheduled to deploy with the 152nd Operations Squadron to Southwest Asia during the same time. Tom told Colt to keep him informed of the route he was taking so that they could possibly meet up during their deployments.

During the first week of September, Tom received a message from Colt that he was in Southwest Asia and that he would be flying out from Tom's location.

"Talk about timing," they got a good laugh and Tom said, "This is gonna' be a crazy story."

With the help from the 737th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, Tom arranged to take a short drive to Colt's duty station. They ate at Taco Bell, shopped at the Post Exchange and "hung out" at Starbucks for about three hours. Colt showed Tom where he was staying. While they were checking out Colt's quarters, Tom had a chance to meet Colt's commander and first sergeant.

The next week, when Tom returned from a flying mission, he received a message that Colt was there at his base in the passenger terminal waiting for the flight to his deployed location. Tom was able to visit with Colt again for about 30 minutes before Colt left.

In true Nevada Air National Guard tradition, Tom, along with Chief Master Sgt. Robert Martinez, commandeered a van and went out to the C-130 to give Colt a proper send off and wish him well.

"I really cannot express how uplifting it was to get to see my son and I know it helped ease him into his first deployment," Tom said.

Colt is due to return May of 2016.

Tom is due to return early in November.