BROTHERS IN ARMS SIBLINGS ON MARINE DUTY IN IRAQ.

Byline: Carol Rock Staff Writer

CANYON COUNTRY - In June 2000, Tina Miller joined a few thousand enthusiastic parents, relatives and friends in the bleachers at Canyon High School, cheering on her triplets Jared, Kelly and Travis at their graduation ceremony.

After finishing high school, Kelly set her sights on California State University, Northridge, where she is pursuing a degree. Her goal is to be an elementary school teacher.

But Travis wasn't enthusiastic about going right into college, so in July 2000 he stopped in to visit the recruiter for the U.S. Marines.

Soon he was crawling through the mud and hiking for miles loaded down with rucksack and rifle in boot camp. This boy who left and came home a man impressed his brother, inspiring Jared to join the Marines that December. Now Tina had two Marines in the family and she couldn't be prouder.

As of last week, the brothers were somewhere near the Iraqi border, members of the 280,000 troops ready to invade at the order of their commander in chief.

``I am scared to death for my boys,'' Tina Miller said. ``They are going to be the first ones in after we initially bomb. I don't want war, but I understand why they're doing it.''

With little communication from her sons, Miller can only hope and pray.

``I got a letter from Jared and one phone call recently,'' she said. ``I haven't talked to Travis since the beginning of February. They can't tell me where they are, but I hope they are safe.''

She does remember that when the boys signed up, they didn't anticipate things would be the way they are today.

``Jared thought he would be seeing the world and traveling,'' she said. ``Well, he is, but now quite how he had hoped.''

Kelly says her brothers are never far from her mind and that she's received a handful of letters from them with a few brotherly confidences.

``I'm kind of scared and worried and I think about them a lot,'' she said. ``I'm very proud of them. They've let me know that they were more scared than they might have mentioned to our mom, but they're also pretty excited. They told me this is their duty, they want to get there and get it done. They just don't want to worry her. I hope they're doing all right.''

Tina Miller said her older son, Kevin, a machinist, respects his brothers for going over there and admits to being a bit scared for them. She also said that the boys' father is supportive of their involvement and shares the family's concern.

``I can't wait for them to be home,'' Miller said. ``And that's the same for all of us. We just don't have any idea when that will be.''

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(color) Tina Miller and her daughter Kelli hold pictures of Kelly's twin brothers, Travis and Jared, who are on U.S. Marine duty in Iraq.

Joe Binoya/Special to the Daily News