Newly promoted Spc. Nathanael LaCorte and his brother Staff Sgt. Samuel LaCorte pose for a picture after Nathanael's promotion ceremony at Multi National Base Tarin Kot, Afghanistan, July 8, 2012. Photo by Army
Spc. Nevada Jack Smith |
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TARIN KOT, Afghanistan (8/5/2012) - Many people say that to serve in
the military is to be a part of a brotherhood. Bonds are forged in
the fire of war that are just as strong as those of blood family.
For two Indiana Army National Guard soldiers serving in Multi
National Base Tarin Kot, that bond of brotherhood is more than a
metaphor.
Spc. Nathanael LaCorte and Staff Sgt. Samuel
LaCorte are brothers both serving with the 76th Infantry Brigade
Combat Team, in Afghanistan, where they both work to support their
command by providing battlefield awareness and knowledge of the
operating environment.
The LaCorte brothers have a large
family with many members claiming military service, to include a
grandfather who fought in WWII.
"I joined the military a
little over a year ago," Nathanael said. "My family has always been
really patriotic so that was a big part of why I wanted to join the
military," said Nathanael. "But another major reason was that I have
four other siblings in the military."
The need to serve is a
familiar trait for the LaCorte family. "My oldest brother was active
Navy; he is now in the reserve. My oldest sister is in the Army
Reserve, I have a brother in the Air National Guard, and then
obviously I have my brother who is here with me," said Nathanael.
"Obviously deploying with my younger brother is a huge plus.
It's always good to have someone there from home that you can talk
to," said Samuel. |
The Shared experiences of serving overseas have given the
two brothers a powerful bond.
"We are closer now than
we have ever been," said Samuel. "I have always looked at
Nate as my kid brother but now I see him more as a soldier
and a man."
The younger sibling shared his older
brother's sentiments.
"He is very good at his job and
a good mentor. I am learning a lot from him," said
Nathanael. "He is always there to support me and helps me
not miss the rest of my family so much."
Both
brothers have already advanced quickly with their military
careers; rising in rank rapidly for the short time they have
been in the service.
"I just want to say how proud I
am of my brother. He has put forth so much effort to be a
good Soldier and he motivates me to be better myself,"
Samuel said.
Samuel, who sets the example for his
younger brother and has been in the Army Nation Guard for
just over five years, has long felt the drive and desire to
serve his nation.
"After 9/11 happened, I was
seventeen at the time, I remember looking at my older
brother and saying, 'I need to do something about this
someday,'" said Samuel. "That feeling of duty stayed with
me, and several years later I enlisted in the National
Guard."
"It is a huge deal to me to be able to serve.
I feel like we have a really great country so I feel good to
give something back," Samuel said.
That sense of duty
has carried Samuel to serve in his civilian work as well
where he works to support law enforcement.
Together
the brothers support and learn from each other, but they
give all the credit to their parents.
"Our parents
taught us to have a really good work ethic and we are both
very motivated to succeed and exceed the standard," Samuel
said.
Just as they drive each other to succeed, the
brothers spoke on how their family back home motivates them.
"I love my whole family a great deal. They have been so
supportive of us over here by sending packages and letters.
I think that we couldn't be nearly as effective without
their support," said Samuel.
"I really miss them and
being away from them this long makes me realize how special
they are and how great it is to have them," Nathanael said.
Serving overseas brings soldiers closer together, but it
also gives a perspective that those who don't serve will
never see.
"This deployment has been really good.
It's been a great learning experience, and I think being
deployed gives you a good view on the world and what's going
on in it," Nathanael said.
Serving together has
already brought them closer and that bond will continue to
shape them for the duration of their tour.
Together
the two brothers are gaining valuable experiences that will
serve them both personally and professionally as they
continue to dedicate themselves to a service that goes
beyond self.
By Army Spc. Nevada Jack Smith
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2012
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