An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Family celebrates Independence Day through military service

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Michael O'Connor
  • 386th Air Expeditionary Wing public affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  Pennsylvania natives Senior Airman David Green, his brother Petty Officer 3rd Class Steven Green, and their father Sgt. Mark Green will celebrate our nation's 232nd birthday on July 4 much different than most Americans.

As the nation prepares for Independence Day with patriotic parades, ringing of bells, fireworks, patriotic oratory, military displays, citizenship and freedom, the Green Family from Boyertown, Pa., chooses to celebrate it through military service far away from their homeland fighting the Global War on Terrorism.

Brothers and 2005 graduates of Boyertown Area High School, Airman Green and Petty Officer Green decided to follow in their father's footsteps the summer after they graduated by enlisting in the Air Force and Navy. Their father Sergeant Green previously served eight years in the active-duty Air Force.

"We wanted to serve our country, move out of the house, and experience new things," said Airman Green who's currently deployed to the 386th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron at an air base in Southwest Asia. Like his brother, Petty Officer Green decided to join the Navy and is currently assigned to the U.S.S. Maine, a nuclear powered submarine.

"Our dad was a big influence on us joining," said Airman Green.

Sergeant Green, a former electrician from Reading, Pa., was so proud of his son's that he too decided to serve his country, again, this time in the Army Reserves.

"Being prior Air Force, it made me very proud for them to join the service," said Sergeant Green who is now serving as a civil affairs specialist with the Delta Company 404th Civil Affairs Airborne Battalion out of Kelly Reserve Center, Fort Dix, N.J.

Serving your nation through military service can make it next to impossible sometimes to get a family together to celebrate anniversaries, birthdays and holidays. This is no different for the Green Family as the last time these American patriots have been together was during Christmas 2006.

"This is our first time deploying," said Sergeant and Airman Green who were able to see each other for the better part of day as Sergeant Green recently deployed with the 1st Brigade 4th Infantry Division on a 13-month deployment. As Sergeant Green made his way over to his deployed location, he had an opportunity to see Airman Green at the air base he was deployed to on June 21 while awaiting en route training prior to heading into Iraq.

The Green Family shares a deep-rooted history with many other families across the United States in that several people in their family have served in the military. Sergeant Green said his father served during World War II and his brother served in the Air Force during the 1970s.