Marine Twins Reunite in Kuwait
(May 14, 2009) |
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Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Robert I. Johnson, right, and his twin bother, Marine Corps Sgt. Tracey R. Johnson, enjoy a brief reunion on Camp Virginia, Kuwait, April 23, 2009. |
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CAMP VIRGINIA, Kuwait, May 8, 2009
If enemies fear one Marine, they now have
twice the reason to be afraid.
Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Robert I. Johnson and Sgt. Tracey R.
Johnson, twin brothers, enjoyed a brief reunion here, far
from their small hometown of Albany, La.
Robert, currently deployed to Kuwait, met up here April 23
with his brother, Tracey, who was on his way back to the
United States from Iraq.
The meeting was brief, but they had the opportunity to grab
some lunch, reminisce on old times and even make a surprise
phone call to their father in Picayune, Miss. |
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Shortly after they exchanged greetings,
the sibling rivalry began. In the blink of an eye, the twins
were locked in their favorite childhood feat of strength, an
old-fashioned arm-wrestling match, triggered from talking
about their childhood.
"I always won the left-handed matches, and Tracey always won
with the right," Robert said. "Now he can beat me with both.
But that's all right; I can still outrun him."
The twins acknowledge they are overly competitive,
especially when it comes to sports.
"I remember boxing each other from the time we were 3 years
old," Tracey said. "But our competitive nature helped us
excel in all types of sports."
The twins always were together growing up, but that bond was
eventually interrupted by some life decisions.
The first separation came when Robert decided to join the
Marine Corps. He enlisted as an integrated material
management system clerk right after graduating from high
school in 2000.
Tracey wasn't interested in the military at the time, and
decided to stay in his hometown. He accepted a few factory
jobs and eventually excelled as a diesel engine mechanic.
But a visit home from his brother and some persuasion from
the local recruiter led him to enlist as a motor transport
mechanic in 2002.
Shortly after Tracey enlisted, Robert changed his specialty
to landing support. That choice allowed the pair to serve
together for two years with 2nd Marine Logistics Group in
Cherry Point, N.C.
While there, they revived old habits by participating in a
variety of unit team sports, and they attended the resident
sergeant's course together.
But the military tempo eventually caught up and forced them
apart again.
The Johnsons now are on separate paths in the Corps, but
their gung-ho approach to each other has spilled over into
an equal climb toward top-notch careers as Marines. Robert
has submitted an application to be a warrant officer.
"Staff Sergeant Johnson has great work ethics," said Gunnery
Sgt. Julie A. Evans, strategic mobility office chief at
Movement Control Center Kuwait. "He will make an outstanding
warrant officer.”
Tracey will be heading to Parris Island, S.C., in July to
attend drill instructor school.
"Sergeant Johnson has more than enough motivation to share
with the whole platoon," said Cpl. Jordan D. Durham, a squad
leader in 1st Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment. "He will make
a great drill instructor."
Meanwhile, Robert is serving a year-long deployment as an
air mobility chief for MCC-K. He validates, coordinates and
tracks all air transportation for deployment and
redeployment of Marines and cargo for operations Iraqi
Freedom and Enduring Freedom.
"Staff Sergeant Johnson is very knowledgeable and has taught
me more about this [specialty] than any of my former
leaders," said Sgt. Joshua I. Kahele, Marine Air Ground Task
Force plans chief at MCC-K.
Tracey is coming off a seven-month deployment to Iraq with
Military Police Company 1/12. He is a motor transport
mechanic who brings meaning to the term "every Marine is a
rifleman." His unit patrolled the Iraq-Syria border and was
instrumental in detaining several high-value targets.
"[Sergeant Johnson] is an extraordinary squad leader," said
Gunnery Sgt. Dan Ryley, second platoon sergeant in Military
Police Company 1/12. "He is very capable of handling the
highest level of responsibilities."
The twins grew up doing everything together, and although
they have made separate decisions, they find themselves on a
fraternal path to success.
"As brothers, it was important for us to take this
opportunity to meet [in Kuwait]," Robert said. "Family means
everything to us."
"Family is where it's at," Tracey said in agreement. | |
Article and photo by Marine Sgt. Michael T. Knight
Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton
Special to American Forces Press Service
Copyright 2009
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