Clarksville brothers reunited

Photo By Capt. Meghan E. Keefe | Capt. Matthew Wagoner and his brother, Sgt. 1st Class Cameron Wagoner, in Tikrit, Iraq. Cameron's promotion was a rare opportunity for the brothers to see each other between their seven deployments and different duty stations.  

TIKRIT, IRAQ

10.16.2009

Story by Capt. Meghan E. Keefe 

37th Engineer Battalion (Combat)(Airborne) - Joint Task Force Eagle

FORWARD OPERATING BASE SPIECHER, Iraq — For brothers Capt. Matthew Wagoner and Sgt. 1st Class Cameron Wagoner serving a deployment means a chance to see family and catch up, Oct. 07, while in Tikrit, Iraq.

Capt. Matthew Wagoner, A Co. commander, 37th Engineer Battalion based out of Fort Bragg, N.C., and his brother Sgt. 1st Class Cameron Wagoner, D Company, 2- 25th Aviation Battalion based out of Wheeler Army Airfield, Hawaii, have 6 combat deployments between the two of them, 5 of which are on different timelines and in different theaters. A promotion ceremony gave the two brothers the opportunity to catch up while deployed to Iraq.

For a short period of time in 2006, when Cameron was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division and Matthew had returned to Fort Bragg from Iraq, they were stationed together. However, over the past 5 years, the two brothers have seen very little of each other.

"It was awesome when we were stationed together. We hadn't seen each other in so long because we were either at different duty stations or deployed. While at Fort Bragg, I actually got to know Cameron and his family again," said Matthew.

Cameron became promotable in July 2009. As an aircraft components repair supervisor with 9 years in service, it speaks highly of him to become promotable early in his career. Knowing his brother would be in country, Cameron waited till he deployed to Iraq to be promoted.

"I'm proud to have my brother promote me. While growing up, he showed me right from wrong. I'm truly grateful he traveled here in Iraq for this important time in my career," said Cameron after his brother pinned on his new rank.

Following Cameron's promotion, the brothers took a walk on the flight line to catch up and relax before Matthew's patrol had to head back south. The Wagoner family, who has lived in Clarksville for 27 years, has a family history of service to their country. Father Terry Wagoner, a retired Sgt. 1st Class moved his family to Fort Campbell while on recruiting duty in 1982. Mother, Cheryl Wagoner also served in the U.S. Army as a sergeant.

"I'm proud to see Cameron make it to the senior level. Looking back to when we were growing up, I never imagined I'd be standing in Iraq promoting him. It was great," said Matthew.

• Date Taken: 10.16.2009
• Date Posted: 10.16.2009 07:12
• Story ID: 40197
• Location: TIKRIT, IQ