By Spc. Ryan Elliott
14th Public Affairs Detachment
FORWARD OPERATING BASE WARHORSE, Iraq- Capt. Joseph Shorr, 2nd Platoon Leader for Bravo Battery, Fires Squadron, 2nd Stryker Calvary Regiment, replaced his older brother Cpt. Geoffrey Shorr fire support officer with Bravo Company, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division in Forward Operating Base Warhorse, Iraq. The brothers don’t hold the same position in their units as each other, but both are Field Artillery officers.
The two soldiers’ units recently crossed paths while conducting a Relief in Place operation, in FOB Warhorse this month. A RIP is the process when a unit trains to take over another unit’s positions and duties.
“It was a great feeling knowing I was replacing my brother over here,” said Joseph, “My arrival allowed my brother to go home and that gave me a good feeling.”
“It’s hard to believe that of all the deployed units in the Army and of all the different areas of responsibility in theater that his squadron would RIP with my battalion,” said Geoffrey.
He added that since ROTC, they have had several amazing coincidences. “First, it was branching Field Artillery, then it was Korea, then it was Fort Lewis, then it was Iraq. It makes me wonder what coincidence will be next,” said Geoffrey.
The brothers, who are only a year and a half apart, were the first members of their family to join the military.
“I was proud of him. I think every American should give back to their country somehow. I’m just glad Joe chose to serve,” said Geoffrey.
Joseph joined the service just before the September 11 attacks. He was inspired to serve his nation proudly in the Army, said Joseph. He said that he could have used the attacks as an excuse not join the Army, but he and his brother felt a need to serve the nation.
This wasn’t the first time this unlikely duo have come together overseas. When Joseph was deployed to Korea his unit relieved his brother Geoffrey’s Field Artillery unit.
“I didn’t think that it could get any better than that,” said Geoffrey.” “It was just an amazing experience to be serving in the same battalion as my brother in a foreign country.”
“We have become very close since we graduated high school and it was a great thing for our entire family that we were able to experience that overseas tour together,” Geoffrey added.
“It was awesome to have somebody there to help explain the cultural and language differences,” said Joseph. “We had about a six month overlap where my brother got to show me the ropes.”
The Shorr brothers’ mom was excited about the possibility of her youngest son replacing her older son in Iraq.
They both said their mother would have liked to have them both home, but she thinks it’s funny that are following in each other’s footsteps. “I think that it comforted her that Joe was taking my place in Iraq,” said Geoffrey. “She knew that my battalion and I worked very hard to make the Diyala River Valley safe for the Iraqi people and the advancement of Iraqi governance and security forces.”
He added that the progress made and the fact that he had lived there and was able to go home safe made her feel better about the whole situation.
“It’s a great feeling meeting all these people who my brother left an impact on, and I’m eager to blaze my own path here,” said Joseph.
