Brothers experience Iraq, separated for first time
The 21-year-old twin brothers, Tony and David Lopez, 2007 graduates of THS, knew from an early age that they wanted to join the Marine Corps. They followed in the footsteps of their 43-year-old stepbrother, who served in the Marines for eight years, and deployed for boot camp at Camp Pendleton in San Diego shortly after graduation.

The brothers, together from birth, separated for the first time in 2008 when they were deployed to Iraq. They were stationed with different units for seven months.

The Lopezes returned in spring 2009, just in time for David to witness the birth of his daughter. The brothers recently deployed to Afghanistan.

"Communication is going to be almost nonexistent in Afghanistan," said their mother, Kathy Lopez.

When the brothers do communicate, it is over the Internet.

The brothers plan to finish out their contract, ending in July 2011, and reenlist, switching their specialization from infantry to recruiting.

By that time, Mario Lopez, 17, hopes to have graduated and follow his brothers' footsteps into the Marines. He says he was first motivated to join the Marines after seeing his brothers' graduation.

Man continues family legacy, serves in Marines
Bruce Baze, a fellow Marine and Tombstone resident, returned to Tombstone from Iraq, after a seven-month deployment, in May 2007.

Born into a military family in Bremerhaven, Germany, the 23-year-old joined the Marine Corps in 2005 after graduating from THS.

After meeting with recruiters from the Army and the Marines, he decided to enlist in the Marines because he felt Marines are held to a higher standard of discipline.

"When you earn that title of a Marine, that's something that no one can take away from you," Baze said.

While in Iraq, he put his training and determination to the test when his unit was faced with a perilous situation. While escorting a military chaplain back to base, Baze and his fellow Marines encountered a deadly IED.

Baze walked away with a grade-three concussion and was awarded two purple hearts for his act of bravery and survival.

"After a near-death experience and a little bit of action – to truly understand combat you have to live it," he said.

Today, Baze resides in Tombstone with his family and is currently enjoying a life free from danger.