Band of Brothers
PROSPECT — Military logistics is the “family business,” said Sharon Coyle, whose youngest son left Monday to study logistics at Fort Knox, Ky.
Her son William graduated from Indiana (Pa.) University on May 10, one day after being commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Army.
Bill's four older brothers, Lt. Jonathan Dean of Philadelphia, Capt. Gilbert Coyle of Ft. Bragg, N.C., Lt. Lee Coyle of Petersburg, Alaska, and Andrew Dean of Prospect, attended the graduation with Sharon Coyle and her husband, Vince, both of Prospect. Lee's wife, Lt. Kathy Cyr, was unable to attend because she is serving in Alaska as commanding officer of the Coast Guard Cutter Anacapa.
“It was a blast,” she said. “IUP has a very good reputation as far as being supportive of the ROTC program, and it was evident in the way that they treated the graduates. People gave them a standing ovation.”
Sharon Coyle said Bill is attending the five-week Leadership Development and Assessment Course at Fort Knox. From there, he will go to Fort Lee, Va., to attend the U.S. Army Ordnance Corps and School, focusing on weapons supply.
The Coyles' oldest son, Jonathan, is studying logistics for the Air Force in Georgia. Sharon said her father was in supply for the Navy during World War II, and her brother also studied logistics during the Vietnam War.
“So this seems to be becoming the family business,” she said.
Neither Sharon Coyle nor her husband have a military background. She said her sons' interest in the Armed Forces began in 1986 with the release of the movie “Top Gun.”
“(Jonathan) was a young teen when 'Top Gun' came out, and I think that was when a lot of boys decided they wanted to be pilots,” she said. “He enlisted in 2000 and now he's Air National Guard.”
Sharon Coyle said ROTC was “an awesome opportunity” for her sons. Although it's difficult having her children and grandchildren scattered across the country, she said she and Vince visit family when they can.
“It's always an opportunity for tourism,” she said. “I've seen things that I didn't think I would get to see because of the boys. It's hard saying goodbye, but then it's nice to have them all home.”
