KANEOHE, Hawaii – Staff Sgt. Eric Smack and 1st Sgt. Shay Henry have a lot in common. They share a birthday, a family, a seven-month Afghanistan deployment — and a plane ride back to Marine Corps Base Hawaii, where they are both currently stationed.
Smack, the platoon sergeant for Echo Battery, 1st Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, and Henry, the former company gunnery sergeant for Headquarters and Service Company, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, returned to their families, Nov. 5 at Hangar 105 with the advance parties of 1/3 and 1/12.
Henry, of Lewiston, Idaho, was promoted to first sergeant on Nov. 7, while Smack, of Hamilton, Ohio, is expecting his first child, a daughter, with his wife of three years. Henry is also Smack’s father-in-law. Shay’s wife of six years said this is the first time both her husband and son-in-law were deployed simultaneously.
Smack’s wife described the first few weeks of the deployment as “rough.” She passed the time helping as the family readiness adviser for 1/12, and earlier, was substitute teaching.
“It seemed like [the deployment] was going to last forever,” Smack’s wife said.
Eric Smack talked to his wife often via Skype and exchanged more than 90 written letters while on deployment. He also recorded himself reading stories like “Brown Bear, Brown Bear” to his unborn daughter, so she would recognize his voice. He also regularly received progressive “belly shots” and ultrasound pictures.
He was also able to attend a crucial doctor appointment via Skype, where they found out the baby would be a girl.
Henry’s wife spent most of the deployment taking care of her daughters, and volunteering as a family readiness adviser for 1/3.
“It never gets easier,” she said. “I just learned how to [hold down the fort]. It’s just harder to see the girls ask where daddy is.”
Smack’s wife said one of her little half sisters once spotted a bird and announced that the bird was looking for its daddy, but its daddy was in Afghanistan. Shay Henry recorded several videos of himself reading children’s books out loud for his daughters to enjoy, including Dr. Seuss and Dora the Explorer books.
“God hasn’t given me anything that I can’t handle,” Henry’s wife said.
“He’s blessed me with lots of patience. I couldn’t ask for any more joy or any more excitement. I love every minute of it, every aspect. I’m proud of my husband. He’s a hard working Marine. He loves his Marines.”
On Nov. 5, Hangar 105 was filled with eager families waiting for their loved ones to return. Henry’s young daughters stood on the red carpet in matching white, purple and green dresses, waving red, white and blue streamers, chanting “Daddy! Daddy! Daddy!” As she waited by the red carpet, Henry’s wife wiped tears from her eyes.
“I’m so nervous I’m going to cry,” she said.
Smack’s wife, also with tears glimmering in her eyes, held her swollen belly, and a sign that read “Days I waited for you Daddy,” with the number “189” in red glitter. She was so far along in her pregnancy, she and others joked that she might give birth in the hangar.
As service members poured into the hangar, Eric Smack emerged from the crowd, and with a wide grin, hugged his family one by one, and proudly rubbed his wife’s belly. Henry’s wife, on the other hand, knew she would have to wait just a bit more, because her husband is usually one of the last ones off the plane. Sure enough, as the crowd on the red carpet started to thin out, Shay Henry approached the hangar to greet his family. The family lingered on the red carpet together, with plenty of smiles and hugs to go around.
For Shay Henry, this fourth combat deployment was a busy one as he hired a contractor to help rebuild Forward Operating Base Delhi. He said he was proud that the battalion was able to work together “as a team” and this deployment “challenged everybody to put their best foot forward.”
This was also the fourth combat deployment for Smack, but first to Afghanistan. He described the deployment as worthwhile, being able to see the Afghan National Army take command where the U.S. military leaves off. He said he was proud that, despite losses this deployment, the group was still able to come together to complete the mission.
Eric Smack said his battalion took care of him, making sure he returned with the advance party to be home in time for his daughter’s birth.
But the excitement was not over, as the family came to see Shay Henry officially become a first sergeant, Nov. 7.
“Words will not describe the joy you feel,” Smack said of his many blessings.
He was overjoyed that his father-in-law has been promoted, and pinned on his new chevrons.
“[I] just try to take it slowly,” said Shay Henry of his processing many new events in his life. “[It’s] exciting to see [my son-in-law and stepdaughter] so happy and watch [my wife] be a grandma. It’s pretty amazing when you think about it.”
As for their future, both Shay Henry and Eric Smack also share a desire to devote long-term service to the Corps. Smack hopes to eventually obtain the rank of sergeant major.
“I’ll keep going as long as I enjoy it, keep going as far as I can go,” Shay Henry said. “It’s a good lifestyle for the girls, [my wife] enjoys it.”