In his unit, they call him 'Dad'

Retired soldier among those called back

Ten years ago, Sgt. 1st Class Peter Fernandes said so long to the Army. He'd spent 18½ years as a soldier, working as a cavalry scout and a recruiter, among other duties. He took an early retirement and happily settled into civilian life with his family.

But in December, the Army asked him back. It needed soldiers to go to Iraq.

Fernandes, 48, of Concord, thought Army officials would change their minds once they saw him.

"I thought they'd take one look at my old fat ass and say, 'We don't need you. Go home,'" he said. "Turns out I wasn't the oldest or the fattest."

Read the rest at the Concord Monitor