Why daddy is making the sacrifice

He has a master's degree and two children and worked as a manager for Seattle's Parks Department.

But after the Sept. 11 attack on the World Trade Center, Aaron Bert felt his first duty was to his country.

He rejoined the Army National Guard and now is serving his second overseas tour of duty — this time in Afghanistan.

Beginning today, Capt. Bert, a 35-year-old Olympia native, will be blogging for The Seattle Times about his experiences with the 81st Brigade Combat Team.

Bert's late father was in the National Guard and Bert joined in 1993, because it required one weekend a month and meant money for college.

"Nine-eleven changed the focus of everything," he said. "The reality of the global situation hit home."

He went to Iraq in 2003, a life-changing experience.

Several years afterward he divorced, in part due to his choice of military service, he said.

"It's hard to explain. This is not something you can shed like a coat after you've done it ... not when you're good at what you do and you know there are people still out there."

He hopes his children will one day understand "why daddy is making the sacrifice he is."