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When he does have a few extra moments, he doesn't spend it on the golf course with friends. Instead, he says his hobby is enjoying quality time with his wife, Katherine, and three children.
"He is an incredibly involved father and husband," Katherine said, adding that his involvement with The Rotary Club of Savannah and The Salvation Army sets an incredible example. "He manages to do all of this, and yet when he walks in the door, that all stays wherever it was. He doesn't ever bring that stuff home."
When he's not working, he's either wrestling with 7-year-old John, cheering on 14-year-old Davis at a soccer game or tennis match, or watching 11-year-old Carol Ann compete at gymnastics.
For now, though, the fun of fatherhood has been put on hold so David can perform his duties in Iraq. In February, he was deployed to Contingency Operating Base Speicher in Tikrit, Iraq, where he works as the deputy chief of staff for the 3rd Infantry Division as part of Task Force Marne in United States Division -- North. The division is responsible for operations in northern Iraq and is expected to return to the states in the fall.
Like many soldiers, David has had to leave his family and the comforts of home to do his job overseas. And like many others, he won't be with his kids on Father's Day.
KEEPING IN TOUCH
David isn't letting a thing like deployment come between him and his family. Thanks to modern technology, he is able to spend time with his family a couple of times a week through video conferences over the Internet.
Whenever possible, Katherine and the children gather in front of a computer to catch up with Dad and fill him in on what's going on in their lives. During the school year, David even helped his son John with homework via video conference. John, who normally hates studying, looked forward to doing homework with his dad.
"When I called, it would be like, 'Hey, Dad! Come on. Let's do homework,'<2009>" David said about John over the phone from Iraq. "And it was hilarious. He'd whip his book out ... and it became an adventure."
He also made sure to watch Carol Ann's gymnastics competition in March at the University of Georgia -- all online, of course.
"It wasn't the best picture, but it was awesome, and (Carol Ann) was so excited to know I could see her," David said.
This isn't the first deployment experience for the Rosenblums. David was sent to Afghanistan for four months in 2005. Carol Ann, said at first she had a hard time understanding why the Army had to send her father to Iraq when there are so many other soldiers they could have chosen. But she has accepted it and looks forward to seeing him when he returns.
"He's helping our countr helping the other country," she said, adding that makes her feel better about having to share her dad with the Army.
HISTORY OF SERVICE
Born into an Army family, David knew at a young age he wanted to serve his country. His grandfather served in World War I, World War II and the Korean War, later retiring as a colonel. His father served in the Korean War and Vietnam and retired as a three-star general. His older brother is a retired Army lieutenant colonel.
"Serving was sort of the family business ... at least for the boys," David said.
After graduating from The Citadel in 1986, David enlisted in the Army. About five years later he decided to go back to school to get his master's degree from the University of South Carolina. He wanted to settle down and experience something different. He started working for The Kennickell Group in 1993 and married Katherine in 1995. But after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, he volunteered to go back in the active Reserves.
David doesn't expect his children to follow in his footsteps. He says he will be happy with whatever career path they choose. But he hopes they learn the importance of hard work and sacrifice.
"It takes sacrifice to live in a free society," David said. "Hard work and sacrifice will get you whatever it is you choose to achieve. ... That's what's great about our country -- you don't have to start from anything, but you can accomplish anything."
David looks forward to making up for lost time with his family in the fall. He looks forward to getting back to the May River, where he and his family enjoy boating, water skiing, fishing, shrimping, crabbing, swimming -- and just being together.
