No Result
View All Results
Reserve & National Guard
SUBSCRIBE FREE
No Result
View All Results
Reserve & National Guard
SUBSCRIBE FREE
Reserve & National Guard

Minnesota brothers continue family’s long legacy of military service

Jessica Evans
by Jessica Evans
January 30, 2020

The Stangl brothers bring a whole new meaning to got your six.  

For many soldiers preparing to deploy, separation from family on the home front can bring an extra hardship. But for siblings opting to share military service, like Sgt. Stephen Stangl and Pfc. Nathan Stangl, that’s not a problem. The brothers, who both serve in the Minnesota National Guard, are experiencing their first career deployment together. 

When Stephen, a motor transport operator, learned his younger brother, Nathan, a helicopter mechanic, had an impending deployment, the elder brother immediately called his Readiness NCO to volunteer. Several months went by without a word. Then, two weeks before Nathan was preparing to leave his small town of Mahtomedi, Minnesota, Stephen got the call. 

“He called and said it was time to go,” Stephen said. “But instead of having a few months to get everything in order, I only had a few weeks.”  

Following in their parents’ footsteps 

Sgt. Stephen Stangl. Photo by Sgt. Sydney Mariette.

The urge to volunteer is tradition in the Stangl family. Rebecca Stangl, the mother of Stephen and Nathan, is a Navy veteran. Their father, Tom, served 21 years total — three on active duty and 18 in the Air National Guard. Cousins, uncles, and grandparents all served as well, including an older brother, Peter, who was active–duty soldier right out of high school.  

After meeting in 1989, Tom deployed to Desert Shield. When he returned, he proposed and the couple began planning a wedding. Just as the invitations were sent, Rebecca’s unit was activated to deploy to Desert Storm. They called everyone invited and moved the wedding to the following day.  

Tom, not wanting his fiancé to deploy alone, offered to go along on the deployment. His unit deployed immediately after the wedding, but Rebecca’s departure was delayed several times until eventually being removed from standby status. 

Sending children overseas 

Rebecca and Tom know there are myriad challenges awaiting them during this deployment, which includes having two sons deployed simultaneously. 

“Both of us have discussed how it seems harder to send our sons than it was to send a spouse. We know that they are adult men, but we see our children. We have to let go of that and trust their training. Communication has improved incredibly since 1991 [so] that part will seem easy. The people being left at home are the ones in the dark, not knowing what is happening. I think this is true for all family members of our deployed troops,” Rebecca said. 

A supportive home front 

Shortly before retiring, Tom commissioned, which allowed him to swear in all three of his sons.  

“I know that was a really proud moment for Dad,” Nathan said. “Not many people get that chance.” 

Then, at Stephen’s recent promotion ceremony, Nathan got to promote his brother to sergeant, noting he was “the first sergeant in the Stangl family in a long time.” 

Nathan is the youngest, and he recalls he and Stephen bickering the way brothers tend to do. As adults, though, he says maturity and life experience has brought them closer together. When Stephen joined the Minnesota National Guard, Nathan soon followed.  

“Our relationship has improved since we have shared commonalities,” Nathan said.   

Leaning on their faith  

Pfc. Nathan Stangl. Photo by Sgt. Sydney Mariette.

One thing the brothers know for sure is that they plan to lean on their faith to help them complete the deployment. 

“The most important thing to us is staying strong in our faith and making sure we don’t lose any connection with it,” Stephen said. 

Part of that will be live streaming services led by their home church, Eagle Brook, in White Bear Lake, Minnesota. 

“Praying and staying faithful to God is definitely the most important thing on this deployment,” Nathan added. 

The two consider miniature bibles to be part of their Army uniform and are steadfast in their Christian beliefs. 

“I look up to my brother for how he’s strong in his faith, and I can only try to be that strong. It’s something I admire,” Nathan remarked.  

The experience of deployment is one that many veterans struggle to articulate once they return home. However, for the Stangl brothers, they will have the added bonus of having those common experiences with each other, making the reintegration process a family affair.  

“A lot of people don’t get to go on a deployment with their brother. It’ll be an experience, and we’ll see how it goes. I’ll get to know a lot of new people while serving with my brother,” Stephen said. 

Read comments
Tags: brothersdeploymentEagle BrookMilitary FamilyMinnesotaMinnesota National Guard
Jessica Evans

Jessica Evans

Jessica Evans is a Cincinnati native relearning what it means to live in America. After several years abroad, she's back on US soil establishing new roots. Evans is the flash fiction editor for Mineral Lit and serves as a mentor for Veteran's Writing Project. Fiction work is forthcoming in Outlook Spring, Literati, and elsewhere. A complete list of publications can be found on her website.

Related Posts

Security forces awardee credits team for success

by Kari Williams
2 weeks ago
0
security forces

Capt. Paul Day, who is in security forces, is the 2022 Air Reserve Component Company Grade Officer of the Year.

Read more

AFRC brings A10s to South America for annual training exercise

by Kari Williams
2 months ago
0
resolute sentinel

Air Force Reserve Command brought A10s to South America for the first time as part of Resolute Sentinel 23.

Read more

Tennessee MPs gain hands-on customs experience with Kuwait deployment

by Christopher Adams
2 months ago
0
customs

More than 150 Tennessee soldiers – several with civilian law enforcement experience – recently deployed to provide customs support overseas.

Read more

Cyber warfare prompts deployment for Maine guardsmen

by Kari Williams
2 months ago
0
cyber warfare

Nine soldiers from the 146th Cyber Warfare Company will mobilize this month for a one-year deployment to support Army Cyber...

Read more

Operation Allies Welcome ‘governor’ witnesses transformation of refugees, service members

by Will Martin
3 months ago
0
Operation Allies Welcome

Col. Bernadette Maldonado was among those called for Operation Allies Welcome after the U.S. departure from Afghanistan in 2021.

Read more

Navy Seabees build home for Native Americans in need

by AmeriForce Exclusive
3 months ago
0
Seabees

Seabees put the finishing touches on a dwelling built for a family in need as part of a partnership with...

Read more

Ads

Let's get social

The RNG Drill

News delivered directly to your inbox

Let's connect!

ABOUT US

  • OUR STORY
  • OUR TEAM
  • OUR WRITERS

MAGAZINE

  • GET PRINT
  • GET DIGITAL
  • GET THE NEWSLETTER

ADVERTISE

  • GET OUR MEDIA KIT
  • PUBLISHER’S STATEMENT

SUBMISSIONS

  • SUBMIT YOUR STORY

Never miss out on the latest stories.

© 2021 Reserve & National Guard by AmeriForce. Privacy Policy | Terms | Site by Swiss Commerce

Thank you for your interest in The Reserve & National Guard Magazine!

Thank you for your interest in The Reserve & National Guard Magazine!

No Result
View All Results
  • NEWS
  • YOUR CAREER
    • UNIT TRAINING
    • DEPLOYMENT
    • PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
    • RECRUITING & RETENTION
    • ENTREPRENEUR
    • TRANSITION
  • EDUCATION
  • MILITARY LIFE
    • MILITARY SPOUSES
    • MILITARY KIDS
    • PARENTING
  • OFF DUTY
    • ENTERTAINMENT
    • TRAVEL
  • HEALTH
    • FITNESS
    • MEDICINE
    • MENTAL HEALTH
  • SPORTS
  • OPINION
  • HISTORY
  • MONEY
    • PERSONAL FINANCE
    • BENEFITS
  • GET THE MAGAZINE
    • PRINT MAGAZINES
    • DIGITAL MAGAZINES
    • GET THE NEWSLETTER
  • ABOUT US
    • MEET OUR TEAM
    • OUR AUTHORS
    • ADVERTISE WITH US
    • SUBMIT YOUR STORY
    • PITCH US
    • CONTACT

© 2022 Reserve & National Guard by AmeriForce. Site by SCBW