- The Washington Times - Wednesday, July 3, 2013

In a show of familial patriotism — and on the same week as America celebrates almost 240 years of freedom, this Independence Day — a trio of brothers started their cadet training at West Point.

This is just one a handful of times throughout history the U.S. Military Academy has taken in three brothers, all in the same class.

Sumner and Cole Ogrydziak, twins who just turned 18, and their 19-year-old brother, Noah, all of Nederland, Texas, joined the ranks of West Point trainees, on track to earn commissions as second lieutenants in the Army in 2017, The Associated Press reported.

“It helps knowing that your brothers are here, even though we’re going to be separated all across campus in different companies, but I’m sure we’ll see each other and it will help keep morale a little bit higher,” said Sumner, in the AP report.

All three received presidential appointments. Their father, Coast Guard Capt. Randal Ogrydziak, serves as deputy sector commander in Corpus Christi. Their mother, Kristine, also served in the Coast Guard for 10 years — and both grandfathers served in the military, too, AP reported.

• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.

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