New soldier joins line of family military men

FORT BENNING - Although Jeff Gritz came from a long line of military men, he never intended to join the service. <br> <br> But when terrorists slammed hijacked jets into the World Trade Center, the 33-year-old Gritz gave up his job trimming trees and enlisted in the Army. <br> <br> ``It was either the military or tree-trimming,&#39;&#39; Pfc. Gritz said. ``I said, &#39;Ah, I&#39;ll trim trees.&#39; The only reason I&#39;d want to join the military is if we were attacked. And then we were. In a big way.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Gritz&#39; father and other members of the band of brothers traveled from California, Washington, Minnesota and Atlanta to Fort Benning to watch the newest soldier in the family graduate Friday from basic training. <br> <br> ``We&#39;ve probably gotten together like this only twice before in the past 20 years,&#39;&#39; said Gritz&#39;s uncle, Tom MacKenzie, a U.S. Army Reserve lieutenant colonel who was activated after Sept. 11 and now works at Forces Command, Fort McPherson, Atlanta. ``I only wish my mom could&#39;ve seen this. If there is a heaven, there is an angel smiling at the sight of this gathering.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> In addition to MacKenzie, the band includes Gritz&#39;s father, Paul Gritz, a pilot who retired as a chief warrant officer after flying with the Golden Knights paratroopers; John Gritz, a retired Green Beret colonel; Rock MacKenzie, a retired infantry captain, and Bob MacKenzie, a retired major with the Army cavalry. <br> <br> The oldest half brother, Toby Gritz, a U.S. Marine Corps lieutenant and aviator, died in Vietnam in 1970. <br> <br> The brothers said their father, a Navy veteran, and their mother who urged her sons to develop leadership qualities led them into military service. (The couple later divorced and the youngest three brothers adopted their mother&#39;s maiden name, MacKenzie.) <br> <br> ``Mom raised six boys as a single mom,&#39;&#39; John Gritz said. ``We were taught that we always owed something back to the country.&#39;&#39; ` <br> <br> Bob MacKenzie said she told them ``you didn&#39;t have to stand tall, you just had to stand. She taught us that, if you&#39;re going to do something, do something for your country.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> All the brothers attended airborne training at Fort Benning. Jeff Gritz wants to do the same. <br> <br> Until Sept. 11, Gritz hauled chain saws up into the trees of California, sawing limbs for a living. <br> <br> ``He&#39;d climb up there sometimes 80 to 90 feet swaying in the breeze. He&#39;d get that life-or-death sweat going,&#39;&#39; said his Uncle Rock, who taught him the business. <br> <br> After the terror attacks, he said Jeff told him, `Well, Uncle Bob, somebody&#39;s got to fight in our generation.&#39;&#39;&#39; <br> <br> The 33-year-old private said his tree-climbing career prepared him for the infantry&#39;s 14-week basic training course. <br> <br> ``I probably shouldn&#39;t say this, but this wasn&#39;t really that bad,&#39;&#39; he said.