Marine Corps News Room

http://www.okinawa.usmc.mil/Public%20Affairs%20Info/Archive%20News%20Pages/2007/070223-bro.html

Lance Cpl. Bryan A. Peterson

They played sports, went on double dates, took the same classes and cruised the town together on weekends. If it didn't mean being together in the same time and place, they wouldn't have anything to do with it.

The thought about being away from each other never ran across their minds until the Marine Corps changed their way of thinking.

Meet twin brothers, Privates First Class James V. and Joseph M. Lindsey, 20, who were born just a minute apart on July 10, 1986.

"We first thought about joining the Marine Corps in the 10th grade," James said. "We didn't think about being apart at the time; we just wanted to be a part of the world's finest military service."

Both said they have always had similar interests.

"I honestly can't remember anything we did differently," Joseph said. "We went to the same hockey games, same parties and even took girls out at the same time."

"We will probably end up marrying twins one day too," James said with a laugh as his brother nodded.

James is a towed artillery systems technician with Ordnance Maintenance Company, Combat Logistics Battalion 35, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, while Joseph is a small arms repairer and technician with III Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group.

These days they can be seen walking together on Camp Hansen from one end to the other almost everyday after work to each other's barracks. The pair can also be spotted buying the exact same products at the shoppette here on occasions. Both even chew two pieces of gum because one just isn't enough.

"We just share the same interests in everything," Joseph said. "The only thing different about us is our jobs, which is what the Marine Corps controls, not us."

Their road to Okinawa began when the Lindseys first talked to their recruiter. Both said they wanted to be combat engineers because they simply wanted to blow stuff up. But due to the lack of availability, the recruiter could not guarantee them the field. They went ahead and entered on open contracts, thinking even if the engineer spots did not open, they would both get the same job. Like always, the twins were thinking the same thing: "They wouldn't keep us apart."

The first sign things were not going as the twins had planned came when James was scheduled to leave Hazleton for Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, S.C., one month before Joseph. The two planned to go to recruit training together through the "buddy system."

"We were mad because we hate being apart," James said.

Though the twins were not able to endure the hardships of recruit training together, their drill instructors kept them connected in other ways once both were on the island, James said.

"About a week before I was to qualify on the rifle range, my senior (drill instructor) visited my brother to get his rifle score," he said. "He came back and told me if I didn't do better than him, I would get slaughtered until I graduated," James laughed.

Since Joseph was one month ahead of his brother on his Marine Corps path, he was the first to find out the twins plans of being combat engineers was not going to happen. A week before he graduated Marine Combat Training, he found out he would be a small-arms repairer.

His first thoughts were, "Small arms repairer! What! What the heck is that?"

Joseph then called home to James, who was on leave in between recruit training and MCT, and told him to try to get the same MOS.

"We thought that we would get the same job when we signed the contracts," James said. "Boy, we were wrong. But I told him I would try to get my MOS switched to his."

James did not get the same MOS as his brother. However, in a twist of fate, the twins ended up on the same base in Aberdeen, Md., for training.

"Just a few years ago, it was school, work and then hanging out," Joseph said. "Once James came to Maryland, it was the same routine we were used to before joining the Marines, because that's how it's always been for us."

The life-long routine they were used to seemed to be coming to an end after the two spent about two months together. Joseph left Maryland to begin a two-year adventure on Okinawa, while James was left back trying to get the same orders. Less than two weeks later, he did.

"I was excited when I saw him actually here. I was hoping we would be in the same barracks, but we couldn't get that lucky," Joseph said. "He is on the opposite side of base, but that doesn't prevent us from hanging out all the time. At least we are here together; that's all that matters."

Lance Cpl. Willie A. Holden, a small arms repairer and technician with the III MHG Armory, knows first hand the relationship the Hazleton natives share.

"I have honestly never seen them apart unless Joseph and I are at work," Holden said. "I wanted to take Joseph to American Village near Camp Lester over the holidays because he hasn't been anywhere yet. He told me, if his brother wants to go, he'll go. If not, then he'll stay back with his brother. I've never seen a bond like they have from anyone in my whole life."

This bond is one the two know may be broken after their two-year tours here, or even before with possible deployments.

So for now the Lindsey twins are focused on developing as Marines and having a good time together. They don't want to think too much about their future when it comes to being apart, they both said.

"We just like to live everyday as it is just because there's always that possibility we might get stationed (apart)," Joseph said.