[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 54 (Monday, April 16, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Page S2318]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




TRIBUTE TO MASTER SERGEANT MICAH B. MASON AND PRIVATE FIRST CLASS MICAH 
                                J. MASON

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, today I wish to pay tribute to a father 
and son who are bravely serving in our Armed Forces simultaneously: MSG 
Micah B. Mason and his son, PFC Micah J. Mason, both of London, KY. 
Master Sergeant Mason has served in the National Guard for 28 years. He 
now has had the opportunity to see his son, Private First Class Mason, 
learn, work, and grow in the same organization that the elder Mason 
began his career in almost three decades ago.
  Not only are the Mason men both involved in the same service branch, 
they also served on the same mission, in the same truck. Master 
Sergeant Mason was excited to be given the opportunity to work 
alongside his son in ``real world'' missions. He feels that he is lucky 
to be able to experience a work environment firsthand with his son in a 
way very few parents get the chance to do.
  Private First Class Mason is excited to be able to go on missions 
with his father. The 22-year-old didn't know that his father was going 
to be on the same truck as him until the day they deployed. He is 
overjoyed to show his father the proficiency at which he does his job 
on a day-to-day basis.
  There is obviously a certain level of concern when deploying on a 
mission solo, and that level increases when there are not one but two 
members of the same family on a single mission. Nonetheless, the two 
have expressed that at the end of the day, they are glad they have each 
other for support.
  The resiliency and strength shown by these two individuals in such a 
tolling work environment is truly remarkable. With men like the Masons 
serving in our Armed Forces, we have little reason to doubt our 
military's abilities. These men are true American heroes who have given 
much so that we may sleep soundly at night and know that our freedoms 
and liberties will always be protected.
  Master Sergeant Mason and his son Private First Class Mason deserve a 
great deal of recognition, just as all those in military service do, 
for what they have done to protect the citizens of their community, the 
great State of Kentucky, and our great country of the United States of 
America.
  Mr. President, I would like to ask my colleagues in the Senate to 
join me in recognizing the hard work, dedication, and sacrifice of MSG 
Micah B. Mason and his son, PFC Micah J. Mason.
  There was recently an article printed in Whitley County, Kentucky's 
local newspaper, The Times-Tribune, which highlighted the outstanding 
service of this father and son duo who have so graciously contributed 
to our Nation's defense throughout the years. Mr. President, I ask 
unanimous consent that said article be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record as follows:

                [From the Times-Tribune, Oct. 12, 2011]

             Father and Son Team Up To Go Outside the Wire

               (By Corbin, special to the Times-Tribune)

       As soldiers complete their pre-mission checks and get 
     everything loaded for transport, it would seem the job of 
     escorting supply trucks from Joint Base Balad to Contingency 
     Operating Site Mosul is just another mission for the soldiers 
     of Delta Company, 1st Battalion, 149th Infantry Regiment, 
     77th Sustainment Brigade, 310th Expeditionary Sustainment 
     Command.
       However, a rare occasion has been marked, not only in the 
     149th Infantry Regiment, but in the military as a whole. A 
     father and son are going out together on not only the same 
     mission, but in the same truck.
       ``It's a unique experience for sure to actually be doing 
     real-world missions with your son as a gunner and seeing him 
     in that atmosphere,'' said Master Sgt. Micah B. Mason, an 
     assistant operations noncommissioned officer with 
     Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 149 Inf. Regt., a 
     native of London. ``It's something very few parents get to 
     do. I'm excited to actually go on a mission and experience it 
     first-hand with my son.
       Master Sgt. Mason, 46, who served in the Guard for over 28 
     years, usually watches convoy escort missions unfold as a 
     shift battle NCO in charge of the 149th Inf. Regt.'s tactical 
     operations center. However, the unit sent him on this mission 
     as part of their ongoing efforts to ensure everyone in the 
     tactical operations center is able to see what goes on first-
     hand during the missions they monitor on a daily basis.
       ``I have a lot of concerns . . . if something does happen 
     (on the mission),'' said Master Sgt. Mason. ``I'm glad I'm 
     there with him, though.''
       Master Sgt. Mason said he's only told two people back home 
     about him and his son doing this mission together and that 
     ``they're just in awe.''
       ``I didn't know he was going, 'til I saw him sitting out by 
     the trucks,'' said 22-year-old Pfc. Micah J. Mason, a gunner 
     with Delta Company, 1/149th Inf. Regt., also a native of 
     London. ``It just makes me happy to actually do something 
     with him, to let him see what I do on a day-to day basis.''
       Pfc. Mason said he had been waiting to be able to go on a 
     mission with his father, as not many people can say that they 
     have done that. After the mission, Master Sgt. Mason had only 
     good things to say.
       ``Things went very smooth,'' he said. ``The convoy escort 
     team knew their jobs very well and were professional every 
     step of the way. Being out with my son was the chance of a 
     lifetime. It was very strange to see him doing his job, being 
     in control. But in the same sense, I was very proud.''

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