Mark Szyman Jr., 24, and Nicholas Szyman, 23, are both in the Army. Both are serving in Iraq about five or six miles away from each other, and both were based out of Hawaii before deployment. Courtesy photo

As the United States continues to engage in war in Iraq, several homes throughout Northwest San Antonio have a dark blue star surrounded by a red frame in their front windows. The star signifies having a child at war. Mark and Margaret Szyman of Helotes have two such stars in their front window.

“What they’re doing is just as important as any football player or anyone else out there who gets recognized,” Mark Szyman said. “The boys miss their Big Red, but they’re doing the right thing.”

Mark Jr., 24 and Nicholas, 23, are both in the Army. Mark joined the reserves in 2000 for school, but he was then activated and sent to Iraq for the first time. After his first tour, he came back and went to school off and on before joining the Army for good.

Nicholas joined the Army right out of high school, and both ended up in Hawaii with the same unit. Now they are stationed in Iraq only six or seven miles from each other.

“They’re in the same battalion. Nick is in the headquarters company, in what they call an infantry scout platoon, and they go scout areas,” Mark Szyman said. “And Mark’s a team leader in a line company. They go do all the dirty work. They’re both corporals, both leaders.”

It was the Szymans’ unit in March that found the remains of missing-in-action Staff Sgt. Matt Maupin, who was captured in Iraq in 2004. Footage of the captured Maupin aired on Al-Jazeera, and his story was followed at home nationally.

Both boys take comfort in the fact that they are together in a war-torn nation.

“When Mark went the first time it was harder because he was by himself, and it’s a little bit better for him because now they know if one of ‘em gets down the other one’s right around the corner,” said Mark Szyman said. “They’ll see each other and it’ll be good.”

Both boys followed in the family tradition. Mark Sr., who retired in 2003, was in the Army for 24 years. Margaret’s father and brother were in the Air Force. Mark Jr. was born in Germany and Nicholas and little brother Travis, 16, were born at Wilford Hall on Lackland Air Force Base.

“Mark always wanted to be in the Army,” said Margaret. “When he was little he drew pictures of helicopters and stuff all the time. Nicholas didn’t so much, but little Mark wanted to be just like Dad.”

“They would hold my feet and count my pushups,” said Mark Sr.

Now grown up, they boys get to play soldier for real.

“I get scared. More than their mother. What you see on TV with the guys going house to house breaking down doors? That’s what they do,” Mark Sr. said. “The job Nicholas does is they go out and look for things, and then Mark’s squad will come back and handle things.”

The father says it is a different war now.

“We were supposed to be able to differentiate between who was the enemy and who was not,” he said.

Between the action, though, the boys take the time to keep in touch with their parents.

“I talk to them almost too much. They’re able to call a lot, texting is good, they’ve both got their laptops, so they’re able to do a lot of the instant messaging on AIM,” said Margaret Szyman.

Mark Sr. said computers play an important role.

“They go on a mission when they’re away for a while, and that’s when you start the heavy praying,” he said. “But after a few days you hear the computer ping, and a message will pop up and they’ll be back.”

When asked if they are going to make careers out of the military, Mark Sr. said it was still up in the air.

“War is war, they happen now and then, but if there’s no war going on, you know. Everything I have I owe to the military. I stayed in, got my education and made my living.”