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CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait (October 29, 2008) -
Sometimes it takes unusual circumstances to bring families
together. A recent deployment to Kuwait was the circumstance that
helped Army Master Sgt. Raul Torres and Navy Petty Officer 2nd
Class Ivan Torres develop a fraternal bond that was missing while
growing up in Puerto Rico and through much of their lives as
adults.
"The gap was so big," said Army Master Sgt. Raul Torres, who is
six years older than Ivan. "That separation created a distance
between [us]."
Age difference, coupled with Ivan being raised in a separate
household on another part of the island, made it difficult for the
brothers to develop a close-knit relationship.
"Ivan use to be asthmatic when we were kids," said Raul. "We
lived on this small island called Vieques and he could not be there
because the weather conditions affected him so much, he was living
with my grandmother and auntie in Caguas."
After graduating from college, Raul's desire to serve in the
military, kindled upon his high school graduation, remained with
him.
When Operation Desert Shield occurred in 1990, Raul decided to
answer the call to serve his country by joining the Army, where he
earned a position as a Military Policeman.
No longer a young intermediate school boy, Ivan had begun to
carve a path of his own.
Following in the family tradition of public service, Ivan
successfully finished his studies and joined the police department
in Puerto Rico. In time, he too felt the urge to serve his country.
But, Ivan did not follow in the footsteps of his brother and father
by joining the Army. Ivan's love for the water caused him to
instead join the Navy Reserves.
Due to Ivan's experience in the civilian sector with the police
force, he was able to acquire a job upholding law and order in the
Navy, as a Master-at-Arms.
"It's a tradition in my family," said Ivan. "My father was in
the Army National Guard and he was a police officer, my grandpa was
a police officer. It's in the blood."
The brothers, admit it has been hard to keep up communication
with each other, especially now that Raul no longer lives on the
island.
In the past five years, the brothers had not seen each other
except for two brief encounters.
But as fate would have it, a recent deployment to Kuwait would
give the Torres brothers an opportunity to nurture a bond that had
been missing for so long.
Ivan arrived to Kuwait to begin his mission in support of
Operation Iraqi Freedom in September 2007. Shortly after Ivan's
deployment, Raul received orders from the Army stating that he too
would deploy to Kuwait.
In February 2008, Raul arrived to Camp Arifjan, Kuwait and was
overwhelmed by the welcome he received from his brother.
"He set me up very well," recalls Raul. "When I arrived here he
was ready for me. I had my cell phone, I had my internet card, I
had a pillow and I had blankets. It's the little things, but it
means a lot. I did not expect that from him."
This deployment has given the brothers a chance to rebuild a
line of communication and lean on each other personally, but it has
also provided them with an opportunity to learn from each other
professionally.
"It's good in one aspect because we have each other to support,"
said Raul. "When you are separated from your family it's a tough
thing, but when you have somebody in the family close to you in the
same place, that makes your deployment a little bit easier."
"It's good because he has more experience in the military system
and I have more experience in the civilian system," added Ivan.
"When I have any questions about [the military] I ask him."
Although the two men never experienced sibling rivalry growing
up, a slight rivalry has developed now that they serve under
different military branches. Many of the men's topics of discussion
involve the way their branch of service does business; but, in the
end, they remain loyal to their branch of service; and most
importantly, each other.
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