Sunday will be day of mixed emotions for mother of twins

One son recently returned from deployment in Iraq. Less than a week after his return to the United States, his identical twin brother deployed to Afghanistan.

For their mother, Linda Ferguson, of Malvern, this Mother’s Day will be one of concern tempered with love and the belief that her 24-year-old sons - Blake and Brandon Pickerel - will be safe.
“I have peace in my heart with it,” Mrs. Ferguson said as she discussed her sons’ decision to join the U.S. Army and the subsequent deployments the two have served during the continuing war on terrorism. “God is taking care of them. They’re smart. They know they’ve got to come back to mom.”

Selecting a military career was not a difficult choice for Blake and Brandon. Their father, Michael Pickerel, who now resides in Ozark, is a former member of the U.S. Marine Corps. And both of their grandfathers served in the U.S. Armed Forces. Her own familiarity with military life helps Ferguson keep an even keel where her sons are concerned.

“I was around the military as the spouse of a Marine,” Mrs. Ferguson said. “We traveled around the country (at various duty stations). I guess that helps my feelings about my boys.”

The two brothers had a rare opportunity to spend time together - two whole days - before Brandon left for Afghanistan.

“Those two days in April (of this year) were the first time they had been together since October of 2006, when we were all together at my house,” Mrs. Ferguson said.

They had a near-meeting in January of 2008. Unfortunately, their paths didn’t cross. Blake left Ft. Bragg, N.C., for Iraq on the same day Brandon was returning to Ft. Bragg from a tour of duty in South Korea.

“They have a great relationship,” Mrs. Ferguson noted. “Unfortunately, since joining the Army, they haven’t been stationed together.”

Despite the separations, the family remains close.

“It’s very difficult, no doubt,” Mrs. Ferguson said of the separations. “But, we were all so close when they were growing up. I was a single parent at the time.
“Technology has allowed us to stay in contact.

“I’ve been blessed to have a great relationship with them. It’s great to get a phone call from them and to hear the other guys in the background.

“I feel okay with them being in Iraq and Afghanistan. As a mother, you worry. But, if they are okay with it, I’m okay with it.”

She says her sons’ attitudes about their chosen profession makes it less stressful for her.

“I’m very blessed with their attitudes about the service,” Mrs. Ferguson said. “They fully intend to make the military a career. They both are very positive about the service and recommend the military as a career.”

Blake, a Transportation Operations Specialist, was able to visit with his mom for Easter this year.

“We had a huge, perfect Easter get-together,” Mrs. Ferguson said. “That was a very special day.”

Brandon, an Aviation Operations Specialist, couldn’t make the trip as he was enroute to Afghanistan.

Linda Ferguson is looking forward to the day when all of her sons - Blake, Brandon, Joseph Pickerel (27) and Spencer Ferguson (11) - can be reunited at her home in Malvern - even for a little while. Regardless of the date on the calendar, that will be Mother’s Day for her.