seruriermarshal
05-15-2004, 10:49 PM
1st ID twins serve together
FORWARD OPERATING BASE DANGER, TIKRIT, Iraq (Army News Service, May 14, 2004) -- While it’s unconfirmed, two 1st Infantry Division Soldiers may be making history as they support Operation Iraqi Freedom II.
They are, perhaps, the only identical twins to face combat with the 1st Infantry Division since it was assembled in 1917.
Sgt.s Leon Franklin Jr. and Levon Franklin re-enlisted in a single ceremony May 1 in Tikrit, Iraq.
To his knowledge, Leon Franklin Jr. and his baby brother by seven minutes, Levon, are the sole identical twins assigned to the division as it approaches its ninth decade.
Based at Forward Operating Base Danger in Tikrit, Iraq, Leon oversees the awards section at Division Main. Since March 19, Levon has been at Camp Spiecher, which is about 20 minutes away. At the division rear, Levon collects information on the Big Red One’s missions.
Perhaps not surprising, the brothers’ military careers have paralleled one another. Born on Sept. 1, 1977, to Winnie and Leon Franklin, the twins acknowledge they’ve always had a close bond, so much so that when Levon joined the Army Reserve in August 1996, Leon followed suit two months later.
Both attended Hinds Community College in Raymond, Miss., where they pursued general studies courses. The twins also worked at Goodwill Industries of Mississippi and a Shoney’s Restaurant.
Leon said his little brother was heading to the alter, with a baby on the way, and thought enlisting in the Army would provide some security.
When the 19-year-olds attended basic training at Ft. Jackson, S.C., their senior drill sergeant thought he was seeing double. Of course, the reality didn’t set in until he made a bunking snafu with the twins.
The drill sergeant originally assigned the pair to the same room because it didn’t occur to him until several hours later that they were twins.
"They gave us a lot of attention,” Leon said of the drill instructors that oversaw the eight weeks of basic training.
However, the pair roomed together in an eight-man bay during advanced individual training at Ft. Jackson, where they trained as human resource specialists.
No matter which twin messed up in basic training, the other paid the price.
“Anytime that one of us had to drop, the other had to drop, too,” Levon recalled.
Levon said he enjoyed going through basic training with his older brother, who candidly admits that he probably made more of the blunders as he became indoctrinated into military life.
When asked who he thinks is a better soldier, Levon pointed out both do their best. Each holds the sharpshooter badge and was promoted to the rank of specialist together. In April 2000, the pair re-enlisted together in Korea and both were promoted to sergeant on Feb. 1, 2001.
Although each stands 5 feet, 6 inches, Leon outweighs his brother by about 5 pounds. Athletically they compete on the same level, except for running.
“It just depends on what day we have,” Leon said.
Leon describes himself as an introvert compared to Levon, whom is “more outgoing.”
Levon said, “every once in a while we like to play tricks on people who never met us.”
For example, he might be at work when his older brother comes to visit. He said his co-workers would marvel at how quickly he could change clothes.
“People my brother knew or knows would come up to me and say, ‘Hey Leon, what’s up?’” Levon said. “I would tell them I was his twin brother, but they wouldn’t actually believe me. I would have to persuade or show them I wasn’t lying. It’s weird when people say hello to you and you don’t even think that you have met them before,” he said. “This happens everyday of my life.”
Levon said he could be mischievous, too.
“Sometimes I tell people I’m not Leon, but sometimes I play like I’m him and don’t tell them,” he said. “It’s easier.”
Their company commander, Cpt. J.R. West, can’t tell the pair apart at times. West shouldn’t feel bad. He has good company, depending on whom you talk to. Leon said his mother sometimes had a problem telling the boys apart while they were growing up in Bolton, Miss.
But his mother, Winnie Bracy, disagrees.
“I have never had a problem telling them apart, except when they call on the telephone,” she wrote in an e-mail.
“Levon is quiet and shy, and doesn’t talk much whereas Leon is talkative,” she said. “They both are willing to help anyone. One can always depend on the twins.”
After two years in the Reserve, the twins wanted to pursue a fulltime career in the military, so on Dec. 29, 1998, they enlisted in the active Army. Since their first duty station together at Ft. Polk, La., the twins have had identical duty stations.
Levon likes it because home is never farther than a chat with his big brother.
“There’s always a family member around,” he said.
While some may think the pair stipulated joint assignments when they signed their contracts, Leon said that’s not the case. Rather, “knowing the right people at the right time” ensured them the same duty stations.
Slated to board a plane on Sept. 11 in Korea for leave back home before reporting to the Big Red One Germany, both men remember how they got the news, which shook the world.
“It was kind of weird, waking up seeing a television saying that the United States had just been attacked,” Levon said. “I thought the world had just ended.”
Leon described the triple attack on the United States as surreal. Both brothers had spots on a Military Airlift Command flight from Korea to Seattle, Wash. They were expecting to be back in the arms of their wives and children, but the evil face of terrorism stepped in.
Leon’s wife, La Veen, called him at the hotel they were staying at in Korea and relayed the news.
“At first I thought I was dreaming,” Leon recalled of the news.
After hanging up the phone, he watched the newscast on a television at the hotel’s reception counter. With all military and Department of Defense civilians ordered back to the base, the events of Sept. 11 delayed his return to the states three or four days.
“I never thought I would be here,” Leon said. “Even when I was in Kuwait it didn’t hit me.”
Stationed in Wurzburg, Germany with Headquarters and Headquarters Company since October 2001, Leon is the NCO of personnel actions and awards. Levon is the operations NCO. They work out of the same building there.
Having two of her sons serving in a combat zone does give Bracy pause.
“I am very proud of Leon and Levon being able to serve their country,” she said. “I worry about them constantly.”
“The worry is them not being together. They have always been together,” Bracy said. “My prayer is always their safety and them being together to take care of and look out for each other.”
Their mother said her sons were very close growing up. So much so that they shared the same interests, friends, and jobs.
“She is like every mother -- worried,” Leon said. “She knows we enjoy our jobs and she is supporting us.”
(Editor’s note: Spc. Sherree Casper is assigned to the 196th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment.)
FORWARD OPERATING BASE DANGER, TIKRIT, Iraq (Army News Service, May 14, 2004) -- While it’s unconfirmed, two 1st Infantry Division Soldiers may be making history as they support Operation Iraqi Freedom II.
They are, perhaps, the only identical twins to face combat with the 1st Infantry Division since it was assembled in 1917.
Sgt.s Leon Franklin Jr. and Levon Franklin re-enlisted in a single ceremony May 1 in Tikrit, Iraq.
To his knowledge, Leon Franklin Jr. and his baby brother by seven minutes, Levon, are the sole identical twins assigned to the division as it approaches its ninth decade.
Based at Forward Operating Base Danger in Tikrit, Iraq, Leon oversees the awards section at Division Main. Since March 19, Levon has been at Camp Spiecher, which is about 20 minutes away. At the division rear, Levon collects information on the Big Red One’s missions.
Perhaps not surprising, the brothers’ military careers have paralleled one another. Born on Sept. 1, 1977, to Winnie and Leon Franklin, the twins acknowledge they’ve always had a close bond, so much so that when Levon joined the Army Reserve in August 1996, Leon followed suit two months later.
Both attended Hinds Community College in Raymond, Miss., where they pursued general studies courses. The twins also worked at Goodwill Industries of Mississippi and a Shoney’s Restaurant.
Leon said his little brother was heading to the alter, with a baby on the way, and thought enlisting in the Army would provide some security.
When the 19-year-olds attended basic training at Ft. Jackson, S.C., their senior drill sergeant thought he was seeing double. Of course, the reality didn’t set in until he made a bunking snafu with the twins.
The drill sergeant originally assigned the pair to the same room because it didn’t occur to him until several hours later that they were twins.
"They gave us a lot of attention,” Leon said of the drill instructors that oversaw the eight weeks of basic training.
However, the pair roomed together in an eight-man bay during advanced individual training at Ft. Jackson, where they trained as human resource specialists.
No matter which twin messed up in basic training, the other paid the price.
“Anytime that one of us had to drop, the other had to drop, too,” Levon recalled.
Levon said he enjoyed going through basic training with his older brother, who candidly admits that he probably made more of the blunders as he became indoctrinated into military life.
When asked who he thinks is a better soldier, Levon pointed out both do their best. Each holds the sharpshooter badge and was promoted to the rank of specialist together. In April 2000, the pair re-enlisted together in Korea and both were promoted to sergeant on Feb. 1, 2001.
Although each stands 5 feet, 6 inches, Leon outweighs his brother by about 5 pounds. Athletically they compete on the same level, except for running.
“It just depends on what day we have,” Leon said.
Leon describes himself as an introvert compared to Levon, whom is “more outgoing.”
Levon said, “every once in a while we like to play tricks on people who never met us.”
For example, he might be at work when his older brother comes to visit. He said his co-workers would marvel at how quickly he could change clothes.
“People my brother knew or knows would come up to me and say, ‘Hey Leon, what’s up?’” Levon said. “I would tell them I was his twin brother, but they wouldn’t actually believe me. I would have to persuade or show them I wasn’t lying. It’s weird when people say hello to you and you don’t even think that you have met them before,” he said. “This happens everyday of my life.”
Levon said he could be mischievous, too.
“Sometimes I tell people I’m not Leon, but sometimes I play like I’m him and don’t tell them,” he said. “It’s easier.”
Their company commander, Cpt. J.R. West, can’t tell the pair apart at times. West shouldn’t feel bad. He has good company, depending on whom you talk to. Leon said his mother sometimes had a problem telling the boys apart while they were growing up in Bolton, Miss.
But his mother, Winnie Bracy, disagrees.
“I have never had a problem telling them apart, except when they call on the telephone,” she wrote in an e-mail.
“Levon is quiet and shy, and doesn’t talk much whereas Leon is talkative,” she said. “They both are willing to help anyone. One can always depend on the twins.”
After two years in the Reserve, the twins wanted to pursue a fulltime career in the military, so on Dec. 29, 1998, they enlisted in the active Army. Since their first duty station together at Ft. Polk, La., the twins have had identical duty stations.
Levon likes it because home is never farther than a chat with his big brother.
“There’s always a family member around,” he said.
While some may think the pair stipulated joint assignments when they signed their contracts, Leon said that’s not the case. Rather, “knowing the right people at the right time” ensured them the same duty stations.
Slated to board a plane on Sept. 11 in Korea for leave back home before reporting to the Big Red One Germany, both men remember how they got the news, which shook the world.
“It was kind of weird, waking up seeing a television saying that the United States had just been attacked,” Levon said. “I thought the world had just ended.”
Leon described the triple attack on the United States as surreal. Both brothers had spots on a Military Airlift Command flight from Korea to Seattle, Wash. They were expecting to be back in the arms of their wives and children, but the evil face of terrorism stepped in.
Leon’s wife, La Veen, called him at the hotel they were staying at in Korea and relayed the news.
“At first I thought I was dreaming,” Leon recalled of the news.
After hanging up the phone, he watched the newscast on a television at the hotel’s reception counter. With all military and Department of Defense civilians ordered back to the base, the events of Sept. 11 delayed his return to the states three or four days.
“I never thought I would be here,” Leon said. “Even when I was in Kuwait it didn’t hit me.”
Stationed in Wurzburg, Germany with Headquarters and Headquarters Company since October 2001, Leon is the NCO of personnel actions and awards. Levon is the operations NCO. They work out of the same building there.
Having two of her sons serving in a combat zone does give Bracy pause.
“I am very proud of Leon and Levon being able to serve their country,” she said. “I worry about them constantly.”
“The worry is them not being together. They have always been together,” Bracy said. “My prayer is always their safety and them being together to take care of and look out for each other.”
Their mother said her sons were very close growing up. So much so that they shared the same interests, friends, and jobs.
“She is like every mother -- worried,” Leon said. “She knows we enjoy our jobs and she is supporting us.”
(Editor’s note: Spc. Sherree Casper is assigned to the 196th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment.)