JACKSONVILLE, FL – For brothers Kody, Keeno, and Konnor, the path to becoming United States Marines isn’t just a personal mission it’s a shared legacy in the making.
Sitting side by side at Marine Corps Recruiting Substation Jacksonville, the three spoke about what it means to take this step as a family. Each brother brings his own story, but what binds them is a lifelong bond and a unified goal: to serve together, side by side, as United States Marines.
“We’ve always done everything together,” said Konnor. “Any time something happened, we’ve always had each other’s back. It just didn’t feel right for only one of us to take this on. This is another challenge for us to conquer together.”
Their unity has been shaped by personal hardship. The brothers spoke about the struggles they've faced at home, especially after losing their father. Keeno, the oldest, put his own dreams on hold to help care for the family during that time.
“I thought the military might be my only shot, but then everything with our dad happened,” Keeno explained. “I focused on the family, did what I had to do. Now that things have calmed down, it feels like the right time and it’s even more fitting that we’re all doing it together.”
For Kody, the journey took an unexpected turn. Initially enlisted in the Air Force, he chose to switch branches, a move that required a formal discharge and even writing to Congress.
“It was tedious,” Kody said. “But I just felt off during the process. At MEPS, I saw the Marines and it clicked. There was a sense of camaraderie that I didn’t see elsewhere. I knew I belonged here.”
Each brother has chosen a different job field in the Marine Corps, shaped by their individual interests and experiences. Kody, inspired by his high school aerospace courses, will enter aviation electronics. Konnor, also drawn to science and engineering, selected electronics maintenance. Keeno, despite a high ASVAB score, opted for infantry, a decision rooted in years of working with veterans and a desire to relate to their experiences on a deeper level.
“I’ve talked to people with Purple Hearts, combat action ribbons, PTSD,” Kody said. “I want to be able to say, ‘Hey man, I’ve been through the training. I get it.’ I want to be the guy they can trust someone who understands.”
Their decision to enlist together has also stirred emotions at home, especially as Kenno prepares for a major life change. He's getting married just before shipping off for boot camp. The couple is selling their home a symbolic closing of one chapter and the beginning of another.
“It’s bittersweet,” Keeno said. “But this next step, becoming a Marine it’s going to polish me into the man I want to be. For my wife, my future family, and myself.”
When asked what example they hope to set, all three brothers agreed: this is about building a legacy.
“No one in our family has ever been a Marine,” said Konnor. “People don’t always realize this is even an option. We want our kids and other families to see that it is. That you can choose this path and change your life. We’re not just joining. We’re starting something.”
As they prepare to leave civilian life behind, the message is clear: they’re not just three young men answering a call to serve. They’re three brothers proving that the bonds of family, tested by life and strengthened by purpose, can take on any challenge together.
| Date Taken: | 05.05.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 06.12.2025 17:16 |
| Story ID: | 498042 |
| Location: | JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA, US |
| Hometown: | JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA, US |
| Web Views: | 49 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Three Brothers, One Mission: Jacksonville Siblings Embark on Marine Corps Journey Together, by Sgt Cody Purcell, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
