Family Ties

Courtesy Photo | From left to right: Capt. Peter Patterson, a San Antonio native and the commander of the 297th Inland Cargo Transfer Company, 553rd Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, re-enlists his younger brother, Sgt. 1st Class Andre Patterson, also a San Antonio native, and operations noncommissioned officer for the U.S. Army Special Operations Headquarters, during a ceremony Aug. 17, 2008 at Al Faw Palace in Baghdad, Iraq.  

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

09.08.2008

Courtesy Story

1st Infantry Division Sustainment Brigade

By Sgt. Rosemary Martinez
1st Sustainment Brigade

CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq – Two Soldiers, who also happen to be brothers, chose different career paths in the Army; but throughout their careers they have proven how good it is to have family by their side.

Capt. Peter Patterson, a San Antonio native and commander of the 297th Inland Cargo Transfer Company, rendered the oath of enlistment to his younger brother, Sgt. 1st Class Andre Patterson, during a re-enlistment ceremony Aug. 17, 2008 at the Al Faw Palace in Baghdad, Iraq.

After 11 years of service, Sgt. 1st Class Patterson, a San Antonio native and operations NCO for the U.S. Army Special Operations Headquarters, decided to re-enlist indefinite status in the U.S. Army.

This is Sgt. 1st Class Patterson's third re-enlistment. He initially enlisted in the Army on Aug. 17, 1997, as a flight operations specialist. He is currently stationed at Joint Base Balad and wanted his older brother to render the oath to him.

"It is great to have my older brother re-enlist me, just as he has been there over the years from my promotions to my NCO induction ceremony," said Sgt. 1st Class Patterson.

Both brothers have a history of supporting each other in Army traditions such as when Capt. Patterson first became a commissioned officer. His younger brother, then a specialist, pinned on his 2nd lieutenant bars and was also the first to salute him as an officer after his graduation from the United States Military Academy in 1999.

Sgt. 1st Class Patterson stated that his older brother has been there to pin him to sergeant, staff sergeant, and sergeant first class while he was there to pin Capt. Patterson to 2nd and 1st lieutenant and captain. He hopes he gets an opportunity to pin him to major.

Neither of the Patterson brothers is new to deployment. Both have deployed three times in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom since the initial invasion in 2003.

"There is no better organization in the world than the United States Army. No other organization will let you keep your brother in the same organization and pay him for it," said Capt. Patterson.

After the ceremony, Capt. Patterson took his brother on a tour of Victory Base Complex and his company area.

• Date Taken: 09.08.2008
• Date Posted: 09.08.2008 04:10
• Story ID: 23346
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ