Fort Bragg Soldier, brother reunite

by 1st Lt. Meghan E. Keefe
37th Eng. Bn. – JTF Eagle

	photo by 1st Lt. Meghan E. Keefe/37th Eng. Bn. - JTF Eagle Capt. Matthew Wagoner and Sgt. 1st Class Cameron Wagoner are brothers who met in Iraq during Cameron’s promotion ceremony Oct. 7.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE SPIECHER, Iraq — For brothers Capt. Matthew Wagoner and Sgt. 1st Class Cameron Wagoner, serving a deployment means a chance to see Family and catch up. The brothers met in Tikrit, Iraq, Oct. 7.

Matthew, commander of Company A, 37th Engineer Battalion, based out of Fort Bragg, and Cameron, Co. D, 2nd Bn., 25th Aviation Regiment, based out of Wheeler Army Airfield, Hawaii, have six combat deployments between them. Five of the deployments were on different timelines and in different theaters. This time, however, a promotion ceremony gave the brothers the opportunity to catch up while deployed to Iraq.

In 2006, when Cameron was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division and Matthew had returned to Fort Bragg from Iraq, they were stationed together. However, over the past five years, the two have seen little of each other.

“It was awesome when we were stationed together. We hadn’t seen each other in so long because we were either at different duty stations or deployed. While at Fort Bragg, I actually got to know Cameron and his Family again,” said Matthew.

Cameron, an aircraft components repair supervisor, became promotable this year after nine years of service. Knowing his brother would be in country, Cameron waited until he deployed to Iraq to be promoted.

“I’m proud to have my brother promote me. While growing up, he showed me right from wrong. I’m truly grateful he traveled here in Iraq for this important time in my career,” said Cameron, after Matthew pinned on his new sergeant first class rank.

Following Cameron’s promotion, the brothers took a walk on the flight line to catch up and relax before Matthew’s patrol had to head south. The Wagoner Family, which has lived in Clarksville, Tenn., for 27 years, has a Family history of service to its country. Father, Terry, a retired sergeant first class, moved his Family to Fort Campbell, Ky., while on recruiting duty in 1982. Mother, Cheryl, also served in the Army as a sergeant.

“I’m proud to see Cameron make it to the senior level. Looking back to when we were growing up, I never imagined I’d be standing in Iraq promoting him. It was great,” said Matthew.