Posted on 06/14/2006 8:35:47 PM PDT by ButThreeLeftsDo
The Witherill family's property is like a billboard for the Marines, with license plates, bumper stickers and decals covering cars and windows everywhere.
And the odds are good Joe Witherill will put a Marine sticker on the car of anyone who visits their property, too.
This proud Marine veteran never insisted his children follow in his footsteps. But that's what happened. Not once. Not twice. Not three times. But four times.
First his oldest son Albert joined and earned a place on the family's Marine Corps wall in the basement of their home. That inspired oldest daughter Andrea.
"When I went to his graduation, I just saw the pride that he had and how he just stood straighter than everybody else," she says.
Now they're clearing more space on the wall for son Adam, who graduates from basic training in San Diego Friday.
That leaves the youngest child, 17-year-old Annah Jo, who gets sworn into the Marines at Fort Snelling next week.
"I'd kind-of feel left out if everybody was part of the same thing and I was different," she says.
The kids say they made their decisions on their own.
"That's a rare occasion," says father Joe. "There's not too many people who have four in the service at one time, let alone four in the Marine Corps who can be actively called at the same time."
And it may not end there. Andrea gave birth to her first child recently. His name is James Aiden Ramsey. The acronym is J.A.R.
"Marines are known for being Jarheads," Joe says. "So he's a 'bred Marine.'"
Over here.....
This is worth checking out
God bless this family..
I was JUST going to ping you!!!!
Well guess I found it in time.
bump
I thought there was some law against sending all the sons in a family off to a war zone. I believe it came from WWII when a family lost all 3 or 4 sons??
Here's a Navy FAQ on the case: http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq72-5.htm
I'm not entirely certain that any of them have been deployed, yet.
"thought there was some law against sending all the sons in a family off to a war zone. I believe it came from WWII when a family lost all 3 or 4 sons??"
http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq72-5.htm
Yes, the 5 Sullivan brothers. Thanks for the link!
NO, not yet but it said this in the article;
[who can be actively called at the same time.]
Ooorah!
As Bahama Mama, I've worked for years with Wanda, our lovely California mermaid travel agent, on organizing the freeper Caribbean cruises.
Wanda's #1 son returned recently from Iraq (Marine). Number 2 son also recently returned from Iraq (Navy). She just returned from a three-day visit at Fort Benning, Georgia, where #3 son graduated from Boot Camp (Army).
Yes, there is a #4 son......and Wanda is wondering if he will join the Air Force.
It would be some kind of quadruple hat trick or sumpin' if he did so.
What a fine military service family. Congratulations, Wanda. You raised a fine gaggle of young men!
Leni/Bahama Mama
Initially saw this story on the local news last night, I guess they finally got enough mail to post it on their web page...
That's what I do.......
;-)
The loss of the Sullivan brothers led to the military not having family members in the same unit. I don't know the level but would expect not to have family members in the same company or even battalion.
I also think after WWII, we got the sole surviving family member not being allowed in a war zone.
Thankyou! I have a recollection of all that you said now. I just couldn't remember the details. Appreciate it.
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