B
Barbara Leggett will always view her oldest son, Brice, as her baby boy. “I had him
petrified, I was also more proud than I can articulate. I tried to never speak of my fear
on my 18th birthday, so we really grew up together. He taught me as much as I taught
to him, only encouragement. God gave him to me, I gave him back to God, and then
him, maybe more. It was just he and I for the first four years of his life, so we relied on
He brought my son safely back to me. God is kind of amazing that way.”
each other for everything and that helped form a very special bond that we still share
Barbara describes her middle son, Austin, as completely different from Brice. “That
to this day. We are very close, and he’ll proudly tell you he’s a Mama’s Boy… I think!”
boy marched out of my womb. From the time he could speak, he would tell you he
When he was 17 years old, Brice mentioned to Barbara that he was interested in
was going to be in the military, and he never wavered from that. Austin has always
joining the military. “I was shocked. I had never heard him mention it before then.
wanted to fight for this country and is fiercely devoted to protecting it and us. He and
Rock star? Yes. Soldier? Not so much.” Brice knew right away that he wanted to serve
I are very close, but he’s much more like his father and keeps his feelings and emo-
in the Military Police. A friend of a friend, who was enlisted as a Military Police Officer
tions close to the cuff. Very few people get to see the non-Marine side of him, and I’m
in the Army National Guard, had inspired Brice. Once his decision was made, Brice
so grateful to be one of them.”
sent a text to Barbara, who was a state away at the time in Georgia. Barbara recalls,
Austin’s Uncle Ashley additionally inspired his decision to serve, as he is retired
“Honestly, I felt like I had been punched in the chest. I was surprised and scared. I
from the Marines. “He would always tell Austin stories and show him pictures and
was also pretty angry because of how he chose to tell me. He knew what my reaction
medals. Austin was in awe of him and still is.” Growing up, Austin regularly watched
would be!”
the History Channel and military- related movies. If he played with toys, it was with
Brice arrived at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri for basic training in February 2011.
Army men and guns. “If you wanted to relate to him and get him to open up to you,
When her son left home, Barbara was out of it for a while. “He’s my first-born, and I
all you had to do was discuss anything military and war- related.” Even to this day,
had never been away from him for more than a couple of weeks at a time. It’s not like
Barbara claims nothing has changed.
sending your kid off to college where you can text or call and hear their voice when
It came as no surprise when Austin told Barbara of his plans to serve. “As with
you choose. I also knew that he would never be that kid I put on an airplane again.
Brice, I was scared for him, but I was prepared for it.” Austin wanted to be a part of the
He would forever be changed in a way that most people cannot comprehend, and
infantry, being on the front lines to witness the action up close and personal. “If there
that’s a humbling thought.” Barbara relied on her friend, Marney, who is married to a
are doors to break down, he wants to lead the way.” He narrowed down his choices to
retired Marine and was more than familiar with military life. She also had a son serv-
the Army and the Marines but eventually chose the Marines. As she watched Austin
ing in the Marines at the time. It also helped writing letters to Brice, which Barbara
leave for Parris Island in June 2015, Barbara was sad to once again see one of her
did at least twice a day.
baby boys leave the nest. “I also had a peace about it that I didn’t have when Brice
Brice returned home that July. “I wanted him to change in some ways, to mature
left. I think it was because I knew that this was the only thing he has ever aspired to
and grow as a man. But, I was petrified that they would change him too much. The
do, and I honestly felt that this would be the only way that he would ever see all of
Army took my goofy, irresponsible son and turned him into a mature, respectful sol-
the amazing qualities in himself that I always saw in him. He needed to prove his
dier who was ready to protect this country using any means necessary. But, he was
worth to himself, and I was so grateful that he was going to finally get that chance.”
still my goofy Brice, so I was thrilled!” Brice remained home for a year until he was
CONTINUED...
deployed to Kosovo for 14 months. “He volunteered for that mission, and while I was
SHEMAGAZINE.COM
JULY 2016
121