2008 Woodie Awards
3 Texan brothers serve in Iraq
Yancey siblings graduated from Tarleton ROTC
Jolynn Elkins
Issue date: 9/13/07 Section: News
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All three graduated from Tarleton and were commissioned through the ROTC program. It could be said that they followed their father, John Yancey's example. He graduated from Tarleton in 1983 and served 24 years in the Army.
"You'd never get them to admit it," said the elder Yancey about his son's following in his footsteps.
Maj. Jay Yancey, the oldest son, graduated in 1997 with a bachelor's degree in History. Capt. Jonathan Yancey graduated in 2004 with a bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice. 1st Lt. Jeremy Yancey graduated in 2005 with a bachelor's degree in General Studies.
He may have surprised his dad by admitting, "I guess we all followed in his footsteps."
The Yancey brothers are the sons of John and Mona Yancey of Proctor. Their second son, Jerred, is a Baptist minister in Fort Worth.
"Our mother has always said that she raised four soldiers: "three for the Army and one for the Lord," said Jeremy. All three of Mrs. Yancey's Army soldiers are currently serving in Iraq.
Jay Yancey lost one half of his foot at age eight when a train ran over it. But it didn't slow him down at all. John Yancey says Jay, "just proved to everyone, 'Hey I can do anything any other guy can do'...nothing ever held him back." Jay proved it by playing baseball and football at Dublin High School.
According to Lt. Col. Robert Levis, Professor of Military Science of Tarleton ROTC, Jay also served in a prestigious U.S. Army Ranger battalion for several years. To be able to perform duties as an Army ranger, an officer must have already performed the same level of duties in a regular Infantry regiment.
"I'm currently the Brigade Chief of Operations for 1st Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, a 6,000 man Tteam that includes eight battalions (including two Marine battalions), over 10,000 Iraqi Police, and two Iraqi Army brigades with 5,000 Iraqi soldiers. I am at Camp Ramadi and have been a first-hand witness to the massive turnaround in Ramadi and the rest of the Anbar Province as relayed by Gen. Patraeus in last night's testimony to Congress. Back in the States I am stationed at Fort Stewart, Ga. Captain Jonathan Yancey, 26-years-old…, Infantry Officer and Infantry Platoon Leader near Iskandariyah, South of Baghdad in the heart of JAM country - Jaysh al-Mahdi (loyal to Muqtada al-Sadr). 1st Lieutenant Jeremy Yancey, 25-years-old, Ordanance (Logistics) Officer and Support Platoon Leader at Forward Operating Base Falcon in Baghdad," said Jay of their different responsibilities.
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