18 year old identical twins join the Army, both preparing to leave for bootcamp

Identical twins from Port Arthur are taking the same career path, to serve their country. 18 year old Jerry and Kerry Dupree have joined the army and are packing their bags for separate boot camps. The boys say their mission is to help others.

Jerry and Kerry Dupree were born 4 minutes apart, 18 years later the identical twins prepare to leave home for the first time, two weeks apart. Kerry is leaving for Minnesota on Monday. Jerry leaves for South Carolina in two weeks.

The best friends decided together to join the Army during their 11th grade year at Memorial high school. Kerry explains, "I decided the army was going to make me a man." Kerry is going to be a mechanic while Jerry will work as a warehouse specialist.

The two plan to get their college degree while serving their country. Their goal is to retire from the Army. They say they are not afraid to fight for their country. Kerry states, "I am not afraid of dying, I just want to try and help as many people as I can before I die." His brother Jerry agrees, "help people and spread the word of god with people so people can be saved."

The boy's mother Sharon Jones Dupree says they are following a long traditions, her father and grandfather both served in the military. She said, "I am very proud they are not on drugs, they are not in the streets, they are church going, they are christian children." She says she will miss them dearly but her tears are tears of joy because she knows God will protect her boys, "I will not be lonely, I will not be sad because I know that they are his children and he is protecting them."

The Dupree family plans to spend their last weekend together before Kerry leaves reading the Bible and praying. They boys will carry with them the advice of their mother, "watch, fight, and pray." The twins have both already packed their Bibles as they prepare to leave to serve their country.

This weekend, the twin's mother has invited the family's aunts, uncles and cousins to come over for a farewell dinner.