Courtesy Photo | Sgt. Matthew J. Becker, right, Alpha Troop, 1-102nd Cavalry Squadron, 50th Infantry...... read more read more
Soldiers have been called "brothers in arms." This phrase usually indicates the closeness combat veterans share with one another.
However, there are some cases in which brothers stand, not side by side, but separated and duty-bound to the cause of peace and security.
Two brothers, separated by war, may be reunited.
Sgt. Matthew Becker serves at Camp Bucca while younger brother Pfc. Phillip Becker served in Baghdad at Forward Operating Base Loyalty recently until late December.
These brothers are bred to service like bird dogs. Their father served in the Army as a guard at the Tomb of the Unknown in Washington, D.C. and finished his Army service as a corporal.
Having instilled a sense of duty in his children, it is in no way surprising these brothers followed their father's example and find themselves serving in Iraq. While they have the Army in common, each has a unique story in his journey to Iraq.
In June of 2007 Phillip left home bound for Fort Benning, Ga., an Infantry One Station Unit Training that includes basic training and advanced individual training.
Upon completion Phillip was assigned to Fort Polk, La. In a few short months Phillip and his unit were deployed to Iraq. Phillip's unit was assigned near Sadr City – near Baghdad.
It was here Phillip experienced his baptism by fire where, while traveling in a convoy, Philip's vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device. One month later, while on mission, Phillip's Humvee was struck by an explosively formed projectile, a type of IED.
The EFP sliced through the up-armored Humvee and struck and set off an AT-4 rocket launcher in the crew compartment. Phillip suffered from extreme hearing loss and traumatic brain injury) as a result of the blast.
"I was always worried about him," said Matthew, upon hearing about brother Phillip's encounters and injuries.
After 12 hazardous and eventful months of service, Phillip redeployed to Fort Polk in late December. Even as he relishes the idea of returning to the United States, the specter of deployment looms and the next year promises to bring another deployment to Iraq or Afghanistan.
Far to the south of Sadr City, Phillip's brother, Matthew's story is being written.
Matthew's time in the Army started before his brother's. Acting on personal commitment, Matthew enlisted in the Army after the attacks of September 11.
After completing Infantry basic training and Airborne School, Matthew was assigned to the prestigious 82nd Airborne Division, 3/325 Airborne Infantry Regiment in Fort Bragg, N.C.
A year after his arrival to his unit, he deployed.
His time in Iraq would be fraught with peril. Fire fights, riots and combat patrols were the norm.
Searches and raids from Baghdad to Samawa filled his days. After spending a year in Iraq, Matthew returned to Fort Bragg.
Upon the completion of his initial enlistment, Matthew left the active Army and returned to his home in Kalamazoo, Mich., where he pursued his education in pre-secondary education.
After four years of civilian life Matthew was once again called to active duty, awakened from his stand-by status in the individual ready reserve in early 2008. He reported to Fort Benning, Ga., and after completing re-integration training, Matthew went to Fort Bliss, Texas, where he was assigned to Alpha Troop, 1-102nd Cavalry Regiment, 50th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, New Jersey Army National Guard.
As a result of his combat experience and leadership ability, Matthew was soon promoted to sergeant.
In September 2008, Alpha Troop deployed to Camp Bucca, Iraq. Matthew serves as a truck commander for convoys throughout southern Iraq and as a team leader in the Base Defense Force.
After re-enlisting at Camp Bucca during this deployment, Sgt. Becker looks forward to enlistment in the Oregon National Guard and hopes to serve as a recruiter in the Active Guard Reserve program.
"I like the guys I am with; I ended up reenlisting," said Matthew. "Out of six IRR guys, I am the only one reenlisting."
The young men served together, though separated by miles of hazardous roads – until Dec. 27, when their two-year separation ended and wishes to reunite finally came true.
Through extensive coordination and planning by the chains of command of both brothers, Matthew was authorized a pass to depart from Camp Bucca on Christmas Day to meet up with Phillip as his Baghdad-based unit redeployed through Camp Virginia, Kuwait.
"This is a four to five day 'get-out-of-here pass'," said 1st Sgt. Mark Rizzo, senior non-commissioned officer for Alpha Troop. "He [Matthew] was ecstatic that we were able to pull this off; he knows he has responsibilities as a team leader. If we did not get them together, they would not be able to get together until 2010."
The meeting was a surprise to Phillip, who was not sure if Matthew could make it.
"We hugged; it was great; I loved it," reflected Matthew, upon the initial reuniting.
In Kuwait, they spent lots of time together, and even though Phillip had to leave a day and a half after their reuniting, every minute was precious, and the one full day they had together was maximized to the fullest.
"It was three o'clock in the morning [before they went to sleep] and I had been up since 8 [a.m.]," added Matthew.
As deployments pile up and conflicts continue, these two young men have the glowing memory of their time together, fulfilling the wishes of both brothers and their father, as brothers, Soldiers, and "brothers in arms."
| Date Taken: | 03.31.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 03.31.2009 06:26 |
| Story ID: | 31800 |
| Location: | IQ |
| Web Views: | 449 |
| Downloads: | 403 |
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