 Lance Cpl. Robert A. Hill, a light armored vehicle mechanic with Delta Company, 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, kneels between his brothers — Army 1st Lt. Josh T. Hill (right), maintenance platoon commander, 1st Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division, and Lance Cpl. Bryan G. Hill, an armorer with Transportation Support Company, Combat Logistics Battalion 6, 1st Marine Logistics Group — during their first reunion in more than a year at al Asad Air Base, Iraq, recently. Photo by Cpl. Ryan L. Tomlinson. “It was weird seeing them in Iraq, of all places,” said Lance Cpl. Robert A. Hill, a light armored vehicle mechanic with Delta Company, 4th LAR Bn. “I was basically leaving one part of my family to see the rest of my family.” Delta Company is a reserve unit attached to 2nd LAR Bn., Regimental Combat Team 5, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Army 1st Lt. Josh T. Hill, maintenance platoon commander, 1st Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division, and Lance Cpl. Bryan G. Hill, an armorer with Transportation Support Company, Combat Logistics Battalion 6, 1st Marine Logistics Group, were informed by a phone call from their mother that their brother, Robert, was deploying to Iraq sometime in the spring of 2008. Josh was aware that his brother, Bryan, was stationed at Al Asad as well. The brothers gathered and drove over to the Arrival/Departure Airfield Control Center to see Robert. They waited 45 minutes to see their brother and the rest of the Marines with Delta Company, 4th LAR Bn., land on the flight line. "I didn’t care how long I waited; I was excited to be able to see him,” said Bryan. “The reunion meant more because of the place we are in.” “It’s pretty cool to see my brothers at one place at one time,” said Josh, 24, the oldest of the three. “Not many groups of brothers see each other at the same time across the world in a war zone.” The Hill brothers grew up in Springfield, Va., a suburb of Washington, D.C. They were raised by their mother, Linda, until one after the other graduated from West Springfield High School every two years starting in 2001. “Our mom was okay with all of us deployed,” said Josh. “I respect her strength, because it’s not easy sending one kid to war, let alone three kids.” Robert added, “All three of us being over here is very difficult on her. Everything she has lived for in the past twenty-four years is over here.” Growing up, each brother was two years older than the other to the month. Josh was always the mentor to his younger brothers. “Josh was an influence, but he did it by picking on us,” said Bryan. “It wasn’t picking on; it was conditioning them to be better men,” said Josh in response to the comment. Josh joined the Army after graduating from East Carolina University in 2005. Robert, 22, joined the Marine Corps Reserve after starting on work and family. Bryan, the youngest at 20, joined the Marine Corps after graduating high school. According to Robert and Bryan, Josh was a huge influence in their decision to serve their country. “Josh influenced me in a way to push me into wanting to join the military,” said Robert. “He paved the way for me and my brother.” Although the two younger brothers didn’t join the same service, Josh said he has a sense of pride when thinking of his brothers. “It made sense why they joined the Marines; it’s because they wanted to do their own thing instead of do exactly what I did,” said Josh. “It was nice just seeing them grow up and see them accomplish things so major,” Josh added. The Hill brothers’ meeting was fulfilling, but short, as Robert left Al Asad Air Base to conduct operations in the western Anbar province of Iraq. (Story by Cpl. Ryan L. Tomlinson, Regimental Combat Team 5) |
