When the war with Iraq began, Robert "Bob" Webb told his mother, Kay, how proud he was to serve his country.

She cried.

Bob Webb, 21, an Ironton native and a operations specialist for the U.S. Navy, is now aboard the U.S.S. Nimitz. Bill Webb, his father, said he does not know his son's exact location at this time. He left San Diego March 1. He sent his parents aerial pictures of his ship on a brief voyage to Hawaii, one of which is the sailors standing together to spell "freedom."

The 2000 Rock Hill High School graduate worked at Pick 'N Save until leaving for the Navy after graduation. Even though he is a man in uniform, Kay Webb said her son is not always serious.

"He's outgoing, and basically always smiling," she said. "He's always clowning around."

Bob Webb is also a music lover and was in Rock Hill's show chorus while in high school.

"He's into Johnny Cash's new CD now, but his collection has rap and all kinds of music. Oldies, gospel, country … you name it."

Bill and Kay Webb once visited their son on his ship on a tiger cruise while he was stationed in Norfolk, Va. Those living on the ship sleep in bunks with their lockers underneath. Three bunks are on top of each other.

"It's a big dorm-type thing," Kay Webb said. "But when they're out there, they're busy. Their minds are going. They work 12-16 hours a day sometimes."

Most people now serving in the military overseas, she said, were close to her son's age.

"It's just kids over there," she said.

The last time the Webbs saw their son face-to-face was in November when he was allowed to come home for 28 days. The family discussed the possibility of war, but not often.

"We hated to see him go back," Kay Webb said.

The Webbs keep in touch with their son quite often via e-mail, which brings comfort when their concern for their son is high.

"It helps ease our minds, and it helps ease his," Kay Webb said.

Bill Webb does watch television news coverage of the war, but Kay Webb does not. The news coverage she does read or hear worries her.

"It's really hard to be for war when you have a son over there," she said. "But, it's something that has to be done."

The Webbs attend church at the City Welfare Mission Church, and their son is on the prayer list. Going to church has been comforting while Bob has been at sea.

"He's in God's hands," Kay Webb said.

The citizens of Iraq, Kay Webb said, are in the same situation as families in the United States.

"Their children and their husbands are over there," she said.

Ironically, Bob Webb is also serving with his recruiter. Even though she does not know anyone with with children overseas very well, Kay Webb said it is comforting to know that others are in her situation. Heath Deer, featured in the Ironton Tribune yesterday, graduated from Rock Hill the same year as her son, and they joined the Navy at the same time. They are on different ships.

"They know exactly what we're going through," she said. "I will whisper up a prayer for them too."