In 1977 Tamara Taylor talked her future husband out of joining the military — she didn't want the lifestyle.
Seven sons later, five of her boys have joined the National Guard, and she hasn't tried to dissuade a single one.
"At some point, you have to let them do what they think is right," Taylor said.
Only one brother, Spc. Matthew Taylor, the oldest at 28, was deployed to Iraq (2003-04), with the 115th Engineer Group. He returned uninjured.
Four brothers have joined the Guard in Utah, one in Arizona, where their father, Stephen Taylor, is employed.
Three Taylor men, ages 22, 25 and 26, are currently in Guard training in Washington state, Missouri and Georgia. While it remains to be seen if any of the brothers will serve in the same unit, it's not uncommon in Utah for brothers or as many as three generations at once to be serving in the same Guard unit.
This is not the first time a Utah family has had five offspring in the military. During World War II, four sons of Alben and Gunda Borgstrom, Bear River Valley, died in Europe. President Franklin D. Roosevelt ordered the fifth sent home from the Pacific — a circumstance apparently reflected in the 1998 movie "Saving Private Ryan."
For the Taylor brothers, three of the five have one child each.
Devin, 18, who is single and still lives at home in South Ogden, will depart July 18 for basic training at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri. It's the age when many young men in Utah consider leaving for missions with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
With Devin, Mom has come as close as with any of the boys to weighing in with a strong opinion.
"I didn't want him to join yet," she said. "I wanted him to go on a mission."
She's worried already because her youngest wants to be in the "thick of things" once he's in full military mode and out of the relative safety of the family nest. Devin's mindset is not surprising to Mom.
In the Taylor family, competition is omnipresent among the brothers, who compare physical fitness tests and prowess on the gun range.
But it's apparently not bravado that has motivated these brothers to join the military.
"We have always been real patriotic," Tamara Taylor said. "It's always been kind of a family thing with us."
Her husband, Stephen, eventually worked 14 years as a civilian employee for the Air Force.
"I did everything but sign on the dotted line," Stephen said about almost joining the Air Force.
In the Taylor home, soldiers were held up as heroes during talks with the boys about someday serving their country in some way.
"I think we raised them to be good, upstanding citizens," Stephen said.
Mom's American history lessons in the home focused on the Constitution, Founding Fathers and fighting for freedom.
Both parents say they're proud the boys chose on their own to serve in the military.
Tamara considers Matthew's tour in Iraq as his chance to help people in that country experience the same freedoms enjoyed in the United States. Whenever her oldest — who worried about Mom worrying about him — was in an area where there was an enemy attack, he would call home to say he was safe.
"It was a relief," she said. "But at the same time, I would say, 'I wish you hadn't told me,' " when he actually was in danger.
Matthew said he didn't tell his mother everything — like the size of a nearby explosion or how close to his position a rocket or mortar. "I really didn't want her to worry — any mom would," he said.
Despite the dangers that Matthew, and potentially Dad's other four sons, could face while in the Guard, it hasn't compelled Stephen to step in.
"I've never been one to dwell on what might happen," he said. "You could lock yourself inside and just be worried constantly — I guess I don't have that kind of makeup."
Matthew was the first of the five brothers to join.
After an LDS mission in Boise, and working for a few years, Matthew decided he wanted to go back to school, and he needed a way to pay for it. The Guard was the answer.
Now Matthew works full time for the Utah National Guard in Draper. He's the only Taylor to make a career of the Guard, so far. No matter the task, "You feel like you're doing something to help the country," he said of his job.
The Taylors have two more sons, ages 11 and 15, but they haven't thought seriously about following in their brothers' footsteps. Still, they have been known to play with BB guns, dress up in camouflage and go through drills like their older siblings.
"I teach them little things about what we do," Matthew said.
There is one daughter, Michelle, 24, who is described as a "Tomboy to the max." She's married, has two daughters and lives in Oregon with her husband, who is also considering — you guessed it — joining the military after he finishes college.
E-mail: sspeckman@desnews.com