Sgt. Martin Reed, 27, of Hinesville is a U.S. Marine and the son of Army veterans. While Reed spends his Fourth of July holiday serving in Afghanistan his father, retired Army 1st Sgt. H. Glenn Martin, will be serving food to Fort Stewart soldiers and their families at the Worth Fighting For celebration on Monday.

Reed spoke to the Courier Friday from Camp Dwyer, Afghanistan. He is an aviation electrician with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 269, deployed from Marine Corps Air Station, New River, N.C. He expects to redeploy in late December or early January.

Reed appears to take his frequent deployments in stride. Growing up in a military family helped prepare him for dealing with long separations, he said.

“It works fine,” Reed said. “They’re (his parents, two brothers and sister) used to it. I’m always deployed. I stay busy and just keep in touch with them.”

“This is his fifth deployment,” Reed’s mother, Army veteran and seasoned Army spouse Charmette Reed, said. “In the Marines they go for six or seven months at a time. Martin has been to Iraq four times. This is his first deployment to Afghanistan.”

Charmette Reed told the Courier last week her husband served during the Vietnam War and in the Gulf War. She spoke of how she disciplined her children when necessary and didn’t allow herself, or her kids, to have “pity parties” while her husband was deployed.

“I just wasn’t going to do that (cry) or let them act out,” she said. “My husband was doing an honorable thing.”

Charmette Reed said she and her husband are proud of all their children. Their son, Keithan Reed, served in the Navy and another son, Army Staff Sgt. William Reed, is attending warrant officer school at Fort Rucker, Ala.

The Reeds’ daughter, Shenise Reed, is a Department of Defense supplier working in Afghanistan.

“They got to have dinner together on Memorial Day,” Charmette Reed said, a smile in her voice.

“It was good seeing my sister,” Reed said. “I wish I could be there for her, but I know she’s in good hands because she’s with the Marines.”

“Our prospective is… God is with them wherever they are,” Charmette Reed said. “The danger over there… you can panic over it or you can have a different perspective. We just move along. Things can happen over here, too. If you worry all the time you would be a nutcase. There’s no point.”

“My mother is a strong woman,” Reed said. “She’s very active. She and my dad are my inspiration. They keep me going.”

Reed said along with indulging in pizza and hamburgers, he’s looking forward to getting some time off and spending that time with family when he returns stateside. He was unable to take any leave before he was called to deploy from a training assignment, the Marine said.

“I love my mom and dad, and my sister and brothers. Hopefully I’ll see them soon. I miss them and I love them,” Reed said.