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OGDEN -- Now some call the attacks of 9/11 the Pearl Harbor of the generation coming of age 10 years ago. For many, it galvanized their focus, and defined a generation.
Brent, Devin and Travis Taylor all serve in the Utah National Guard. 9/11 was a pivotal day for this family. They felt a shock wave deep inside.
"I don't think any of us thought that was going to happen in America," said Brent.
"I just knew I was angry, and I knew we were going to go to war, and I wanted to go," said Devin.
Brent was 22, a student at BYU. Devin only 13, and Travis, a 10-year-old in fifth grade.
"Growing up, you think of America as a powerhouse among all the countries, so it was incredibly surprising that we could be attacked in our homeland," said Travis.
The way they felt that day led them all to eventually join the Army --and it's not just the three of them. They have three more brothers in arms. One on active duty in Kentucky, one in the Arizona National Guard, and another in the Utah National Guard. They didn't plan it that way.
"None of them pressured me to join. It was my own decision," said Travis.
The older boys joined shortly after 9-11, and the others fell in line.
"For me, 9/11 was pretty much the whole reason," said Devin.
They felt it was a duty for their generation. And that feeling hasn't faded for the Taylor brothers.
"Remember how you felt on 9/11. That sense that we wanted justice for the people who did that to our country, to our fellow Americans? That's still how I feel 10 years later," said Brent Taylor.
They weren't raised in a military family, but look around: the entire house is decorated in red, white and blue, and was long before 9/11.
Remember how you felt on 9/11. That sense that we wanted justice for the people who did that to our country, to our fellow Americans? That's still how I feel 10 years later.
–- Brent Taylor
"I don't think we're more patriotic than other American families. We're proud that the boys have chosen this way to show it," said their father, Steve Taylor.
And while their mother, Tamara, worries about her boys when they deploy, she's their biggest supporter, and grew to embrace her family's eagerness to sacrifice and serve.
"We always talked about American heroes and how great it was that they served their country," she said.
Brent deployed twice to Iraq with a military intelligence unit, and he ships out for Afghanistan in October. While 10 years ago. Now, he knows he's fighting for several generations of Taylors.
"We all love our country and feel there's an obligation we have for all of the brave soldiers who went before and got the freedoms we have now."
As for the way their generation responded to 9-11:
"They used to say a lot that the World War II vets were the greatest generation. I think this generation has stepped up pretty well," said Devin.
They're a close family, enjoying the time they have and ready to face the ultimate sacrifice.
"That's what we signed up to do. Death happens. If that were part of it and that happened to our family, we'd have to deal with it," said Devin.
"We say our prayers and do our best training and leave it in God's hands what exactly will happen.
Fighting different battles, but bound together. Email:jboal@ksl.com
