JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq — For 25-year-old Sgt. Jonas Saunders, a communications specialist with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 149th Infantry Regiment, 310th Expeditionary Sustainment Command and a native of Barbourville, Ky., serving alongside his brothers in arms has a completely different meaning.
Saunders, who has served in the Kentucky Army National Guard since October 2005 as a truck driver, an infantryman and a communications specialist, has a twin brother deployed with him.
Cpl. Jason Saunders, also a native of Barbourville, serves as an infantryman with Alpha Company 1-149th Inf. Regt. Jonas said he initially joined the Guard at the encouragement of his brother Jason, a vehicle commander for A Company who enlisted in 2004.
As for deploying together, the twin brothers said they are both okay with the idea, especially since they know what to expect.
“We did it once before when the 149th deployed in 2006,” Jonas said.
Jason said it’s been tough, however, being in two different areas of the country and not knowing where his brother is or “if he’s okay all the time.”
In the end, every little thing helps a soldier’s morale while serving in Iraq. For these two, that thing just so happens to be a little piece of home right down the road.