COURT HOUSE — When Thomas Wolfe penned, “You Can’t Go Home Again,” he probably didn’t have in mind Col. Phillip Carey and Col. Roger Carey.
The brothers, born and raised in Wildwood, came home the evening of May 18 to be honored by proclamations from Sen. Jeff Van Drew (D-1st) thanking them for their service to the nation. Each man retired after serving in the U.S. Army for 30 years. What made this retirement even more special is the brothers opted to retire from their military careers the same day.
Watching them receive the accolades was a plethora of people, including siblings, family, friends and clergy who had given support to the two men as they rose from the ranks of living in public housing to attaining the rank of colonel.
Phillip Carey, 53, and his brother Roger Carey, 55, grew up in Commissioners’ Court, attended the city’s public schools and are alumni of Wildwood High School (Phillip Class of 1977, Roger Class of 1975). Both men attended New Jersey colleges where they participated in Rider University’s ROTC program.
“We were close growing up,” said Roger Carey of he and his brother’s relationship. “And we were close in college.” That closeness is what drove the brothers to serve in the Army.
Roger Carey graduated from Rider University with a bachelor’s degree in Communications and received his commission in 1980 as a single-tracked Signal Corps officer. Phillip, a graduate of The College of New Jersey, received his bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and Psychology. He was also commissioned in 1982 as a 2nd lieutenant in the Field Artillery branch.
“They asked me what branch I wanted, and said ‘How about Field Artillery?’ I said ‘What is that?’ They said ‘See that first word, ‘Field’?” said Phillip Carey during the brothers’ March 28 retirement ceremony at Aberdeen Proving Ground. “They weren’t kidding, everything we did was in the field.”
Their official retirement ceremony at Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland was very special to the brothers. Reading the pair their retirement orders was Roger’s son, 2nd Lt. Marcus Carey.
Roger Carey’s 30-year career included assignments with the White House Communications Agency, where he provided support for President Bill Clinton, Vice President Al Gore, First Lady Hillary Clinton, the U.S. Secret Service and White House staff.
Phillip Carey’s career included assignments as a Pershing Missile Firing platoon leader, fire support officer for the 2nd Armored Division Aviation Brigade. He saw combat action during the Persian Gulf War.
During the May 18 event, the colonels, surrounded by family, friends and their pastor, spoke of growing up in Wildwood.
The pair of colonels are two of eight children, raised singly by their mother, the late Margaret Carey.
“My mother was a figure to be reckoned with,” Roger Carey told the Herald. “Whenever we were going off track, she’d talk to us.”
Roger Carey said the strength of his mother helped carry him through several of his assignments.
“Thirty years and three wars. I know her prayers were with me. Her faith carried me through a lot of my trials,” he said.
Her son said his visit to Cape May County included a visit to Moriah Cemetery in Cold Spring to visit his mother’s grave.
“I thanked her for her guidance and her prayers,” said Roger Carey.
Beside the pair of officer brothers, the siblings include Ernestine Smith of Willingboro, Cheryl Cox of Court House, Francis McCollum of Rochester, N.Y., Frances Wilson of Court House and two deceased brothers, Henry and Donald McCollum.
“We’re proud of you,” said Van Drew as he presented the pair their proclamations.
“We’ve been praying the Lord would keep you and protect you,” said Rev. James Hatch, associate pastor of Eureka Baptist Church. Both colonels Carey were raised in the church. Hatch was instrumental in bringing to fruition the brothers’ hometown reception.
Each of the colonels has traveled the world. Yet their roots remain deep in Wildwood.
“Growing up in Wildwood,” said Roger Carey, “gave me a foundation. It helped shape my life as I traveled the world.”
With chests full of medals and acknowledgements of their service to their nation, the trip home may have been the sweetest goodbye of all. “This was the icing on the cake,” said Roger Carey of the reception given him. “It was closure of 32 years of my service and 30 plus years of service by my brother.”
