Photo By Lt. Col. Charles Calio | U.S. Army Capt. Chris Hall (left), an Army surgeon with 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry...... read more read more
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PALDISKI BARRACKS, Estonia - John Hall lives in Millington, Mich., and his younger brother Chris lives in Vicenza, Italy. John serves in the Michigan Army National Guard and Chris serves on active duty with the U.S. Army’s 173rd Airborne Brigade. They are separated by eight years in age, a six-hour time difference and 4,393 miles.
Despite the many things that would appear to separate the brothers, the two are united by a love for country and military service. Lt. Col. John Hall commands the 126th Press Camp Headquarters based out of Fort Custer, Mich., and Capt. Chris Hall is the battalion surgeon for 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade.
Because the 173rd Airborne Brigade is stationed in Europe, the brothers see each other about twice a year.
This past April, Chris received deployment orders to Estonia, supporting his battalion as they held training exercises alongside allied forces in the Baltic region.
Around the same time, John learned he would be headed to Latvia, which has a long association with the Michigan National Guard through the U.S. military’s state partnership program.
The two brothers’ shared goal of enhancing security cooperation between the U.S. and its allies allowed them a short, yet special, reunion last week when they were able to meet for dinner in Estonia.
John first joined the Army in 1985 as a medic with the 82nd Airborne Division, based out of Fort Bragg, N.C. After leaving active duty, he joined the Florida National Guard and later moved to Michigan and joined the Michigan National Guard. He spent years in various cavalry, infantry and engineer units before serving with the 126th PCH as a public affairs officer during the unit's deployment to Iraq in 2008-2009.
John found that he enjoyed public affairs and stayed with the 126th PCH after its deployment.
"I love public affairs," John said. "The ability to tell the Army story and to experience the many facets of the Army has been an incredible experience. The Army is full of brilliant, professional people, and they are doing incredible things around the world on behalf of their country and its allies."
Chris first joined the Michigan National Guard prior to his senior year in high school. After completing high school, Chris completed Advanced Individual Training to become an Army medic. Ironically, John was Chris's company commander when they both served in the headquarters company with 1st Battalion, 125th Infantry Regiment, located in Flint, Mich.
Chris left military service in 2001 to pursue educational goals and to spend more time with his growing family. Finding himself eager to again serve in the military, Chris joined the 173rd Airborne Brigade after obtaining a doctorate of medicine from Michigan State University in 2010, whereupon he immediately deployed to Afghanistan.
"Afghanistan was tough," Chris said. "It was there that I truly learned to appreciate the sacrifice made by America's service members. It was also there that I was able to first work closely with our NATO allies and to appreciate the many sacrifices also made by their service members."
Due to the U.S. Army’s commitment to its NATO allies in the Baltic region, Chris traveled to Estonia this past April with the 173rd Airborne, which also has paratroopers training in Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania and Poland. At the same time, due to the 22-year state partnership between Michigan and Latvia, John traveled to Latvia in May to support an unmanned aerial surveillance platoon, based out of Grayling Army Airfield, Mich., assigned to the Michigan National Guard’s 37th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, headquartered in Lansing, Mich.
The UAS platoon needed a public affairs officer, and when ordered to duty, John gladly accepted the mission.
"It was exciting to realize that I would be training in the same part of the world Chris had deployed to a couple of weeks earlier, and that I would be with the Michigan National Guard, who would be supporting our Latvian brothers by flying our Shadow UAVs in the Baltic," John said.
Though only able to arrange a short reunion in Estonia, the brothers were happy to have the opportunity to spend some time together.
"John has been a great mentor to me," Chris said. "Whether it's been in the Army or as an English teacher in his civilian job, he has inspired young adults his entire life. I'm grateful for his guidance and sage advice over the years, it's meant a lot to me."
Likewise, John was happy to spend time with his little brother, whom he has seen grow up to become an accomplished surgeon serving his country.
"It's amazing, the growth I've seen in Chris," John said. "When I first joined the Army and left home, Chris was just in elementary school. He was always a smart kid and I knew that Chris would do great things, but to see him complete medical school and to serve with the 173rd Airborne Brigade, and [to see] his concern for the suffering of the people he has met around the world, is truly inspirational."
Reuniting for a few hours has, perhaps, meant as much to the brothers as the opportunity to meet and train with their Baltic counterparts, he said.
"The Latvians are great," John said. "Their training is top-notch and it's evident that they take great pride in being professional soldiers."
Chris agreed with John's assessment of Baltic soldiers, stating, "The Estonians are as professional as any other NATO ally I've had the pleasure to work with. In my eyes, and I think in the eyes of my fellow [173rd Airborne] ‘Sky Soldiers,’ the Estonians have proven themselves very capable soldiers. I'm glad to be here with my Estonian counterparts."
| Date Taken: | 05.26.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 06.04.2014 08:16 |
| Story ID: | 132036 |
| Location: | PALDISKI BARRACKS, HARJUMAA, EE |
| Web Views: | 1,161 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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