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Iredell's brothers in arms
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Published: April 28, 2009
Charles, the youngest of the McClure brothers, got the bug to enlist first — while he was still in high school. That's why he outranks his two older brothers.
James and John signed on as mechanics — a nod to their dad, Steve — but volunteered for more dangerous duty when the call for it came.
Earlier this month the three McClure brothers shipped off to the Middle East and in the next few weeks may become the first trio of siblings from Iredell County to serve in Iraq at the same time.
Charles, now 21, was 17 when he enlisted in the National Guard on Sept. 11, 2004, less than a month after the start of his senior year at West Iredell High School. As one might suspect, the date was not chosen at random.
"He wanted to do it on Sept. 11, because of 9/11," his mother, Barbara, explained.
She said her youngest son was beaming when he came home from school on the day he decided to join the military.
"I thought it was a good idea right then," she said. "I saw the enthusiasm and pride when he walked in said he wanted to enlist."
He entered basic training — better known as boot camp — soon after graduating from West in May 2005.
Middle brother John, 25, enlisted 11 months later. And by September 2006, James, 28, had joined his younger brothers as a Guardsmen.
In preparation for their deployment, the McClure men trained at Fort Bragg, as well at Army bases in California and Mississippi, before being shipped out over the course of four days in mid-April.
The McClures are in different units, all of which are under the umbrella of the 30th Heavy Brigade Combat Team.
James is an artillery specialist in the 113th Field Artillery Regiment out of Lincolnton. John is with the 120th Infantry Regiment based in New Bern. And James is with the 230th Brigade Support Battalion, out of Dunn.
All three took different routes to get to the base in Kuwait, where, according to Barbara, they are adjusting to their new environment.
Charles traveled from Fort Bragg to Maine to Germany before arriving in Kuwait. James' penultimate stop was Amsterdam and John got to see a tiny piece of Ireland before moving on.
Charles is a sergeant. John and James both hold the rank of specialist.
But all three men are in jobs that have great potential for putting them in harm's way.
Charles loads artillery shells in what is known as a paladin gun. John will work, essentially, as a personal body guard for high-ranking officers.
And James will be on convoy security detail, which, as Barbara explained, involves engaging the enemy to allow vehicle convoys to pass through dangerous areas.
Barbara says she "tries not to worry," but she isn't always successful. "I try not to watch the news about Iraq because that will make me think about it and get concerned."
But, overall, Barbara has adopted a philosophical view of the situation.
"God gives us the children to raise until they can choose for themselves," she said. "And then they are in God's hands."
The senior McClures were told that if something should happen to one of their sons, the youngest of the other two would be given the option of coming back home. If two of the men are severely injured, the third would be ordered home.
Barbara is proud of her sons and says they are carrying on a family tradition that dates back to the Civil War, when her great-great-great (and maybe even another "great") grandfather served as a chaplain.
And Barbara McClure knows the importance of having a chaplain around.
"I told them to talk to people if they get too down by what they see," she said. "I tell them that there are chaplains and retention officers around, and that if anything bothers them they need to talk. Don't hold it in."
The McClures are slated to be in Iraq until next April but could be there slightly longer.
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