CHELMSFORD, Mass.—For Felix Gregorian, nothing could make him prouder than having two sons attend the most prestigious military academies in the land.
Not even two service tours overseas with the United States Army in Iraq and Afghanistan where he was immersed into a hotbed of hostility.
Say what you want about sibling rivalries, but when Dro got accepted into the Naval Academy at Annapolis, his brother Greg wasn’t to be denied. On came his acceptance three years later to the Military Academy at West Point.
Add it up and it represents nearly $400,000 in full scholarship grants, not to mention the endorsements each received from their Congressmen and support from the general community as well.
And should they be deployed like their Dad, it goes with the territory. Both boys are disciplined in the highest military order and put their country before themselves.
Come May 29, Dro will graduate from Annapolis. He will take a leave of absence throughout June, then return to the Naval Institute to finish Introductory Flight Screening during July and August. Once trained, he will report to a squadron and complete a three-year tour.
The deployment schedule typically includes a six-month stint overseas, followed by another six months in the United States before awaiting further orders. He credits his Dad with guiding him in the right direction.
“After researching and applying to different schools, I decided the Naval Academy had the most to offer in terms of majors, sports, extra-curricular activities, and service assignments,” said Dro. “My father taught me it was an honor and privilege to serve. The branch didn’t matter.”
At Chelmsford High School, he played varsity soccer and ran track. Dro was a member of the North Andover AYF and served as chapter president. He remained active with St. Gregory Church where he was ordained as an acolyte and stole bearer.
At graduation, Dro had been offered full ROTC scholarships from the U.S. Navy, Army. and Air Force. His nomination to Annapolis came from Congressman Martin T. Meehan.
A typical day starts at 6:30 a.m. with formation, then a full class load. Afternoons consist of intramural sports and conditioning while evenings are devoted to study time until 11 p.m. His major is mechanical engineering.
His freshman year, Dro went out for lightweight crew before joining the high power rifle team. As a First Sergeant his sophomore year, his role leaned toward the care and welfare of underclassmen in terms of professionalism, military appearance, fitness, and high academic standing.
He later became Company Executive Officer taking command of 150 midshipmen, followed by a Battalion Administrative Officer this semester in charge of five company officers.
The fact his brother chose West Point and Army sent the boys off toward opposite extremes, causing somewhat of a dilemma when the two schools clash during their traditional football rivalry.
When Felix attended the game last fall with his wife Candace, the parents divided their time on each side of the cheering section, feeling somewhat unique about two sons in such a simultaneous—yet diverse—setting.
“This year’s Army-Navy game was especially remarkable because of the rivalry, not only between the two services but between my brother as well,” Dro admitted. “Despite our differences, we did spend the entire game together with our family. I was especially pleased that day. Navy won, of course, just like they’ve done for the past eight years.”
Brother Greg is a mirror image of his older brother who, no doubt, carried a big influence in joining the military ranks. He, too, was a scholar-athlete at Chelmsford High, graduating with a 3.75 GPA. He captained the track team and played varsity soccer, filtering through the AYF ranks with the North Andover Chapter and playing in the HMEM Olympic Games. He was a member of two honor societies and like his brother, served St. Gregory Church with diligence as a stole bearer and acolyte.
“Seeing my brother apply was a huge reason for my application,” said Greg, who was recommended for appointment by Congresswoman Nikki Tsongas.
“There is no question in my mind when it comes to becoming part of the world’s most elite military. My brother’s insight was also indispensable, as was my father’s initiative to attend. Growing up with all the military toys, watching war movies, and dressing as soldiers during Halloween played a big influence in our younger years. The military is my call.”
Straight out of high school, Greg was accepted to six of the nine schools he applied. Much to his dismay, his three rejections were by the military academies. He attended Virginia Tech for a year and enrolled in the Marine ROTC program.
Greg reapplied to West Point and Annapolis, was turned down by the Naval Academy but got the appointment to West Point.
“It was a hard decision leaving Virginia Tech and repeating my freshman year, but the best one I could have made,” he recalled. “Forbes ranked West Point the number one college in the nation, and for good reason. The military training and academic curriculum here are top notch.”
His daily schedule is much like his brother’s—austere and by the book. Study, gym time, meals. Marksmanship, land navigation, and treatment of combat wounds are among the required classes for plebes (freshmen). Taps occur at 11:30 p.m.
“It is not a normal college,” Greg confirmed. “There are no parties. This is a disciplined institution which trains military officers for the future.”
Currently ranked 836 in a class of 1,242 with a 2.7 GPA, Greg expects to be deployed once he leaves here, but not necessarily to the Middle East. Depending on where soldiers are needed and the branch of service, it could be elsewhere for humanitarian purposes such as Haiti. He hopes the concentration will be intelligence, armor, field artillery, or infantry.
“I’m prepared to serve my country wherever I’m needed,” he said. “I have no doubt the training I receive at West Point will prepare me for deployment when that time comes. I thank all the men and women currently serving America in the Armed Forces and those who have made the ultimate sacrifice to protect our freedom.”
Which all bodes well with the Patriarch General of this military unit. Felix Gregorian offers a hearty salute to his two sons and invites other Armenian youth to forge new avenues of approach with the world. Someone has to serve and carry the torch of freedom and fight for us all, he said.
In 2003, he made his Boston Marathon debut. The money he raised in pledges went toward the building fund of St. Gregory Church in North Andover. He also waged a personal mission to raise genocide awareness in his community by designing and distributing special commemoration pins.
He’s been with the Army Reserves 22 years and works in the respiratory care program at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. It wasn’t until completing a service tour of Afghanistan that he learned about his sons’ decisions. Both boys were bent on following in Dad’s footsteps.
“We live in the best country with the best opportunities,” he said. “Our Armenian veterans are prominent in every conflict with every nation down through the course of history. Many of them are members of my church. These are Armenian American heroes who’ve spent time on the battlefields. They are proof that patriotism is alive and well. God bless the Armenian Republic. God bless the United States of America.”
Tom Vartabedian
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What’s so honorable or proud about two Armenians serving the military industrial complex of a bloodthirsty empire hijacked by special foreign interest??? They are tools in the massive/bloody/corrupt war machine; a war machine that would not think twice about erasing Armenia from the map if it could…
Bravo Felix for serving your country through military service and fellow human beings through hospital work. And bravo to your sons for choosing to follow their father to serve their country, particularly during this International Crisis.
And in serving their country, they support the 4th of the “Four Freedoms” put forward by President Roosevelt at the start of World War 2, namely, “Freedom from Fear” of terrorist attacks like that of Sept. 11.
And equally significant is that all three of them will support the first of the Four Freedoms, that of speaking what’s on your mind.
With all its faults the US of A still took in our people in the aftermath of the Genocide.
Get a grip, Avetis! Kudos to 2 young and dedicated Armenian Americans. Your mixing your own views of American diplomacy with what these kids represent… leadership, academics, integrity, and drive. I would be proud to call them my sons.
Andre, I am sure if you looked hard enough you’d find Armenians honorably serving in the Turkish military today as well. It’s primarily because of Armenian attitudes like you that we have gotten no where as a nation. And guess what, Andre? These “kids” directly represent “American diplomacy” and they will be a small gear in the criminal war machine.
What happen to my comment about the Fox News spokesperson Vee?
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Avetis, you took the sentiments right out of my mouth. My thoughts exactly! Proudly defending the country that still denies the genocide. Wake up jingo Armenians.
Comment I can not believe that any body can be proved of suppressing poorer nations by a super bully. War should be out of necessity for defending human rights, not for oil money, and walking all over poorer nations rights.
Your sons should be proved of defending rights and freedoms not having a hand in taking the rights of poorer nations, that are powerless in defending themselves.
It is a human tragedy when the new generation is being brain washed in to confusing a soldiers duty, which is defending the rights, not supporting a super powers hunger for money and power to walk all over the rights.
Seda Vartanian
The US military stopped serving the US a long time ago, sometime between the first and second world wars I would say. Today, the US military is a bloody tool in the hands of multinational corporations hellbent on subjugating weak peoples with natural resources. Trying to portray these kids as proud “Armenians” is yet another joke. Real “Armenians” would want to serve their homeland in Armenia. Real Armenians would want to serve the Armenian military, a military that is honored with the sacred task of defending its home turf from the US military supported likes of Turkey and Azerbaijan.
Good for this family!
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From a navy chief. OOOORAH NAVY!!!
I am proud to be an Armenian American serving this great country.
Hey Avetis, go climb under some hole and do us a favor.
Good job boys (sirs).
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It is hard for me to believe that Avetis, Arpi, and Suren are true Armenian Americans. All of you need to see the world half full rather than half empty. I’m proud to say I am the offspring of Armenians who struggled and lost their families in 1915.
The two points of few presented in the comments about this article are miles apart. I’m so proud to say I’ve know this family since the boys were toddlers and to see how they have grown into young men and proud to serve the country that has given them the greatest freedoms one can have. Candace and Felix, parents of the boys have every right to be proud of the boys.
Talk about them being brainwashed, I feel that some of you are brain dead.
Get a life!
The lack of intellectual, rational and spiritual integrity of certain commentators here are shocking for me as an Armenian-American. What does Armenians having a good life in America (which is a relative matter) have to do with seeing a certain unpleasant realities staring us in the face?
Realities such as: the US government being in bed with Armenia’s enemies; the US government engaging in bloody empire building; the US government exploiting peoples and natural reserves worldwide; the US government curbing the civil liberties here in the states; US government using its armed forces as its impose its will upon others… The US has gone from the most loved to the most hated and/or feared nation on earth.
Special interests that essentially own politicians in Washington and the military industrial complex of this country are utterly ruing this once great land. The US military was meant to protect the US, not engage in global domination in the name of megalomania, oil and Zionism. US servicemen today are – directly and indirectly – murderers of innocents worldwide. Anyone knowingly and/or willingly serving this war machine is at heart, a criminal.
Unlike some delusional people who have no ethical/intellectual problems feeding the unAmerican and inhuman bloodthirsty war machine here, I see myself as a “true” American patriot.
Vahram “Vee”, even with all their faults, places like Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Iran and Palestine took in Armenian genocide survivors as well and Armenians there made a very good living. The aforementioned nations today are targeted by the corrupt/greedy/bloodthirsty employers of these naive enlisted men – with utter destruction in the name of Zionism and energy exploitation. I suggest you stop shamelessly spewing Fox New propaganda and realize that the US military today, as well as its politicians that lead it, no longer serve the interests of this once great land.
For those who are making the anti-military comments surrounding the Gregorian family’s decision, you should be embarassed.
This article was written as a tribute to an American Armenian family, who is surving the USA. Schools like Annapolis and West Point are institutions that not only provide leaders of the military, but leaders in the world.
While one may disagree with the reasons the US government decides to go to war, we shouldn’t punish our soldiers for performing the tasks they have to do.
As Armenians, we should be proud of people like the Gregorian family as contributing to the world and should appreciate everything our soldiers do to protect our national interests.
Disgusted,
Why did we punish upstanding Nazis serving their fatherland? Why do we want to punish Turks serving theirs? You people need a crash course in logical thinking. Like I said, the irrationality and lack of ethical integrity I see amongst Armenians today is breathtaking.
My strict Armenian father, who was a soldier, didn’t allow me to register for any branch of the military and I am so glad he got his way. This was about a year before September 11, 2001. I can’t imagine the hell he spared me from. The only part I appreciated reading in this piece was about military colleges not being like normal colleges, “There are no parties”. It sickens me to see educational opportunities wasted.
I never though I’d live to see the day when Armenians would make excuses only worthy of denialist Turks…
The young men in question will “proudly” and “faithfully” serve a corrupt war machine that has the blood of well over a million innocent lives on its hands. And according to a “Disgusted” Rambo wannabe, one can “disagree” with the government for making war but one can’t blame the soldiers for fighting it. What? Can I blame the uniformed criminals in Turkey for killing many of my innocent family members in 1915? Or can’t I, because they were only doing their duty to their nation? Were Nazis and Bolsheviks not doing their duties as well? Weren’t the Vietcong doing their duties when they were torturing American airmen that were bombing their cities? Aren’t Islamic fundamentalists doing their duties when they behead infidels? Are you people adults? Are you even human?
And we are only expected to “disagree” with a government that has essentially waged war against the world? Only “disagree” with a government that has undermined Armenia for the past twenty years and continues to be in bed with our enemies? Only “disagree” with a government that supports oppressive dictatorships worldwide. Only “disagree” with a government that has gone from the most loved to the most feared and hated on earth? Only “disagree” with a government that no longer serves the interests of this republic?
Besides which, as far as I know, individuals today “volunteer” to serve. These men “volunteered” to serve the global war machine in Washington run by special interests. Am I not right? As a result, I blame those who “voluntarily” join this war machine, more so that those who run it.
God gave you a brain, I suggest you use it once in a while. Acting like brain-dead flag wavers won’t turn you into patriots. Opposing those who have hijacked this once great republic, on the other hand, may. I suggest you yahoos put down your Chinese made American flags and start thinking about ways to save this republic from its destructive path.
I can’t believe how shallow, how hypocritical many of you Armenian-Americans are. And you folks are looking for justice against the Turks… in blood soaked Washington?
Bernard Fassier: the French co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group mediating the Nagorno-Karabakh peace talks said: “Azerbaijan’s victory in the event of renewed war is impossible, because I know about the bravery of the Armenian and Karabakh warriors.” … Brothers and sisters, these warriors are the ones you should embrace and be proud of. when and if the time comes we are ready to deploy and join these warriors in a heartbeat ! always maintain your marksman ship and stay in shape. Houra !
With all that we need to do to advance our Armenian causes, the last thing we need to do is to insult our talented and dedicated Armenian youth who are trying to raise our Armenian image and reputation among Americans and others. These individuals who responded so negatively about the praiseworthy Gregorian brothers obviously have wasted their lives—and the wasted lives they have are producing nothing positive about the Armenian people because they’re letting their bitterness consume them. Very sad.
Yeghsapet, please don’t think and sound like a white mid age american lady who has never traveled outside her U.S state, we are not by the way putting these bros down. These brothers are doing something good for themselfs, they are choosing the U.S military for the benefits skills/career/college tuition and plus its the closest military to join when your living in the states :-) I just don’t see a difference by having 500 armenians in the U.S military or just 50, btw did you know ARMENIA has soldiers in afghanistan ?
They are trying to “raise” the “image” and “reputation” of Armenia by serving in the US military?!?!?! Do you really mean this? I”m the waste of life?
Very sad…
Hey Shnorig, what you can believe is that I am an ARMENIAN who unfortunately had to be born in America because my grandparents were thrown out of the Eden that should have been my birthplace. I’m sure the boys and the family mentioned in this article are fine people. too bad they are enamored of a country that has done so much harm to their Armenian brethren. Go ahead and wave the Stars and Stripes as much as you want. I love Armenians, be we are a naive lot.
Maybe if this family gets to a higher place with their military and educational backgroundd, Armenians will be in a better position while representing this great nation and tell the Armenian history and someone will finally listen! Remember freedom is not free and these guys will fight so you can maintain your freedom of speech. It works both ways.
Why do so many of you here sound like FOX News sound bites?
The military history of these boys dates back to the 17th century, it is sad that after all the work they and their ancestors have done for this country that we live in a country of RACE a word that needs to be taken off any govt paper work, that would be a great place to start, stop the division there. I am very proud of these boys their dad and mom, true patriots continue to fight for freedom while at the same time fending off the ignorent caucaisons they are serving. Let us all be Americans proud of our heritage be it, Black, Mexican, Asain, Armenian, American Indian, and on around the world.
I am proud of Armenians who serve honorably in the US military and I’m proud of Armenians who also serve honorably in the Armenian military.
war goes far deeper then oil and money. War consumes our money and uses up our resources around the world. What we the USA have done is take on the responsibility to protect and defend that can not defend themselves, we take this beyond our borders because it is the right thing under God to do. Think of ths example- Your neighbors down the street are a bunch of crack heads, hooked on meth and thay have 3 small children. You see from outside thier fence that they are hungry, need clothes and showers. If u are human those 3 kids will consume your personal resources, and the war begins with thier parents.