Three Brothers Come Together in Iraq

The Klein brothers, with C Company, 2nd Battalion, 211th Aviation Regiment Air Ambulance, stand together in front of a UH-60 ‘Blackhawk’ Jan. 24, aboard al Asad Air Base, Iraq. The three brothers spent four days reunited for the first time since August thanks to an exchange program that gives soldiers the opportunity to work with different units.

Band of Brothers: Three Brothers Come Together in Iraq
By Cpl. Ryan Young
2nd Marine Aircraft Wing
AL ASAD AIR BASE, Iraq – Work may have felt less like endless hours in a helicopter hangar and a little more like time spent back in Iowa for three soldiers who share more than a common hometown.
Two brothers with C Company, 2nd Battalion, 211th Aviation Regiment Air Ambulance, which supports Marine Expeditionary Force operations, reunited with their third brother in Iraq, Jan. 19-24, for the first time since August due to a temporary swap of maintenance personnel between two squadrons.
Army 1st Lt. Sheldon Klein, a UH-60 ‘Blackhawk’ pilot and Army Staff Sgt. Travis Klein, a UH-60 crew chief, were surprised when they heard they would get a chance to work alongside their middle brother, Army Sgt. Michael (Shane) Klein, a tactical helicopter repairman with the 34th Combat Aviation Brigade. The reunion was credited to a new exchange program that gives maintenance Soldiers the opportunity to experience different phases of maintenance and new command structures.
“Sheldon got back from leave and Shane arrived for the exchange program on the same day,” said Travis. “I had brothers sneaking up behind me in the halls.”
With the oldest and youngest brother continuously changing bases throughout the deployment, it was truly by chance that the brothers from Dysart, Iowa, were able to get together.
“We have too many moving parts to pull something like this off,” said Army 1st Sgt. Andrew Carrillo, the C Company 2-211th Air Ambulance first sergeant. “Personnel are constantly moving, and this reunion was extremely lucky.”
The three brothers are hard workers who have the mindset of getting their duties and responsibilities completed before they let themselves sit down and enjoy each other’s company, according to Army Sgt. Scott Blakesley, a technical inspector with C Company 2-211th Air Ambulance and a friend of the brothers.
“That is just how they were raised and I think it makes them deserve this reunion even more,” Carrillo explained.
Being able to work together was a huge plus for the brothers. Seeing each other performing their jobs keeps them focused on their own tasks with the thought that, at some point, one of their brothers is going to have to trust in the aircraft they work on as well as the skill of the pilot.
“As a pilot, being with my brothers makes me hold other pilots to a high standard, because I know one of my brothers could be flying with them at some point,” Sheldon said. “In addition, I’m sure my brother on the maintenance side is making sure his fellow Soldiers are taking that extra step to ensure the aircraft is ready, knowing it very well could be one of his brothers flying aboard.”
“We all try to spread that mentality to the other servicemembers by getting them to see each other as true blood brothers,” said Sheldon.
During their time together they took the chance to call their parents and families. The brothers agree that their families have played an important role in getting through the deployment, which made the ability to get together while in Iraq, a huge morale boost for both them and their families.
The Klein brothers also spent some of their time playing music together late into the night.
“We are limited on time and staying fairly busy with work but as we get time we have gotten together to do a little guitar playing,” Travis explained.
“There is a lot of music history in our family and we all enjoy playing together,” Shane said. “Sitting down playing music with Travis and myself on the guitar and Sheldon on the harmonica gives me the chance to clear my mind and it helps us reset. Once you are so far into a deployment, you might start feeling like you are losing your edge and this is like a reset button for me. I know I will be going back to work sharper.”
The next time the Klein brothers hope to meet up again is at home after their deployments are finished. Until then, they all agree that they are grateful for the time they spent together, helping them and their families out a great deal.

Wild Thing’s comment………….
Thank you to all three of Klein brothers. God bless you and keep you safe.