Reginald Littlefield II was supposed to be coming home from Iraq to see his family.
AUBURN
They have always been close.
Reginald Littlefield and his only son, Reginald II, have shared a lot over the years.

And last Friday, Reggie senior had to summon the courage to share his son’s confidence that he would be all right despite his canceled homecoming and extended stay in Iraq.

Reggie II, 39, an Army master sargeant, has been in Iraq since last April.

“Two weeks ago he had been moved to Baghdad to prepare for a flight back home. He was going to leave last Sunday,” Reggie senior, 71, said. “Then he got the word Saturday.”

Penny, Reggie II’s wife, heard first.

The couple married about four years ago and settled in Oxford. They had their first child last September, six months after Reggie II left for Iraq.

Penny told Audrey Johnson, Reggie senior’s daughter. Audrey called the rest of the family.

“I was upset, didn’t think it was fair,” Reggie senior said. “I was planning to pick him up this Saturday.”

Reggie II is in the U.S. Army Reserves 94th Military Police Company based in Saco. After high school, he served in the regular Army for four years and a year after that, he entered the reserves.

He had been working as a security officer at the Androscoggin County Jail in Auburn.

This is not his first trip overseas. Reggie senior said his son was stationed in Bosnia for nine months.

“That wasn’t as bad as this time,” Reggie senior said. “He’s on my mind all the time. I worry. But, he’s well-trained and I know he knows what he is doing.”

Reggie senior and Reggie junior are close friends as well as father and son. There was horseback riding and fishing in the spring and summer, and skating and skiing in the winter.

“We helped each other with work on our houses and we went to Masons together,” Reggie senior said. “I’ve been a Mason for 45 years. We would have family gatherings for the holidays, for birthdays – we have always had a very good, close relationship.”

Reggie senior was in the Army, anti-aircraft division, from 1952-54.

“I had been in and I thought it was good for any young fellow,” Reggie senior said. “When he went in there were no problems worldwide.”

He said jail officials are holding his son’s job and have been supportive. He said they check frequently to see if Penny needs anything.

Reggie senior and his son would exchange e-mail frequently and the father would share information with Penny when news was available.

Reggie II didn’t talk too much about Iraq, except to say that he was all right where he was.

“I have lot of faith in him,” Reggie senior said. “I realize he didn’t want to worry us, but I took what he was saying as the straight truth.

“I’m sure he will do what he has to do and be home soon,” he said. “I just don’t know when he’ll be coming back.”
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