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Rodney Cowden

“Reflecting on my years of service in the U.S. Army, the title I hold with the greatest honor is not of a soldier, but of a father. Being a military dad has shaped me into a man of resilience, dedication, and strength. The same values I strived to uphold in uniform are those I seek to instill in my three boys: commitment, integrity, and courage. The look in their eyes when they say, "Dad, you were a soldier," fills me with a sense of accomplishment that no medal ever could. But it's not the past feats of bravery or the disciplined regimen that I want them to emulate. It's the unwavering spirit of service, the commitment to a cause greater than oneself, the strength to stand up for what's right. I want them to understand the meaning of sacrifice, not just in the battlefield context, but in everyday life."

To me, being a military dad means serving as a role model of these values, raising my sons to be kind, brave, and selfless citizens. It means sharing the stories of camaraderie, resilience, and honor so they know that heroism is about the courage to do what's right, not just the courage to fight.”

What's New

  • U.S. Army Col. Mark Craig with Children “Being a Dad is fun, rewarding, educational, and impactful. Being an Army Dad means modeling the Army Values to my kids ...
  • U.S. Army Colonel Nelson So with Children “Being a military (Army) Dad gives me and my family a very special opportunity to travel around the world. My children ...
  • Dr. Samuel McCreedy This is my father, William “Bill” McCreedy, after his first solo flight in 1960 during training to become a Naval Aviator ...
  • Lynn M. Young, BSN, RN, Nurse Admin Coordinator Father My Dad’s entire career was working for the U. S. Air Force. He was active duty and then GM Civilian. I am so proud of his ...
  • U.S. Army COL Yang Xia, Executive Director/Medical Director for TRICARE Area Office Latin America and Canada There is nothing better than being a military dad. I have 4 wonderful kids and they participate in a range of sports to ...
  • Michael Jackonis with his children “This is a photo of me with my daughter, Kasey, and son, Logan. The kids are all grown up and married now, but we had a ...
  • Tina Gainan's Husband I’d like to recognize my spouse, Retired Maj., Shane Gainan, who is an Army vet and dad of three sons. One son is in the ...
  • U.S. Air Force Maj. Beau J. Taylor “For me, being a father means that no success, no matter how great, can compensate for failure in the home. It is about ...
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Last Updated: July 11, 2023
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