|
MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. - Whether it
was basketball, football or their all-time favorite,
wrestling, the Hullenbaugh siblings could always be found
horsing around and hanging out together.
Growing up,
the children of a retired Navy master chief who served 20
years as a cryptologic technician always had the military in
their blood.
|
Hullenbaugh siblings, Lisa, George, Nathaniel, and Samuel, who
are currently serving together in the Marine Corps in the ground
electronics maintenance field, stand with other members of their
family as the American flag flies behind them on OIctober 21, 2013.
(U.S. Marine Corps photo by Pfc. Grace Waladkewics)
|
The oldest of the four Hullenbaugh
children, Cpl. Lisa Hullenbaugh, also known as Charlie, said
her three younger brothers always looked up to her.
“They copied me a lot, but I always felt the need to protect
them and make sure no one hurt them,” said Charlie.
Charlie's brothers, George, 21, Nathaniel, 20, and Samuel,
18, have all followed her lead with regard to their choice
to serve as Marines as well.
Spread across three
states and two separate countries performing jobs in the
ground electronics maintenance field, the siblings' bond
remains as strong as ever.
Charlie, the first to
enlist, was dual enrolled in college and high school courses
for literary arts during her high school career.
“My
brother George and I were known as Goth kids growing up,”
said Charlie. “No one, not even I, could have imagined this
is where I would be now.”
Charlie is a telephone
systems and personal computer repairer working as a
switching technician with Telecommunications and Information
Systems Directorate and station telephone at Cherry Point.
She is responsible for installing and repairing telephones
and providing around the clock technical support for
callers.
Lance Cpl. George M. Hullenbaugh II is
serving with 3rd Batallion 5th Marine 1st Marine Division at
Camp Pendleton and Lance Cpl. Nathaniel J. Hullenbaugh is
currently deployed to Spain with 2nd Recon Batallion. Both
brothers are actively serving as ground radio intermediate
repairers, while Pfc. Samuel R. Hullenbaugh is currently
attending Marine Combat Training at Camp Geiger.
Samuel is on track to become a ground electronics
maintenance Marine upon graduation of his Military
Occupational Specialty School.
“I am proud of my
brothers for serving, but it is hard knowing that they could
be in danger and I can't help them,” said Charlie.
Charlie described her brothers as intelligent, hard working,
fast learners.
“There is definitely a competition for
rank among all of us,” said Charlie. “George is looking at
the warrant officer route and Nathaniel wants to serve for
20 years. We are all competing for the highest rank before
any of us get out.”
Samuel is the youngest and has
been given all the keys to success, said Charlie. All three
of the older siblings met the challenge, so Samuel should
have nothing to worry about, she said.
Charlie
described the day she told her father that she was joining
the Marine Corps and his shocked reaction when he found out
she would be serving in the same job field to which he
devoted 20 years of his life.
“My father is very
proud of all of us,” said Charlie. “I was a Navy brat all my
life. I was stubborn and knew I wanted to join the Navy as a
Corpsman, but after a few things in my life changed I
finally told my father I was joining the Marine Corps in the
signals intelligence field, and he just shook his head and
laughed.”
Having a whole household of successful
children in the same job field is something he can always be
proud of, she said.
Although the Hullenbaughs are
separated by geography, their bond remains strong.
“It is really difficult at times because we are all split
up,” said Charlie. “We can't always talk on the phone due to
training so we often settle for texts or sneaks of short
phone calls.”
Charlie said she feels honored that she
gets to serve alongside her brothers but just can't wait
until they are all together again and knows that they are
all safe.
By USMC Pfc. Grace Waladkewics
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2013
Comment on this article |
