From MYFOX Kansas City

COLUMBIA, MO. — Four brothers are all headed to serve our country in Iraq. The Stahlschmidt family said each son wants to be a soldier, but the emotion of sending four brothers to Iraq is overwhelming.

Despite knowing the risk to their family, each one of the Stahlschmidt brothers is ready to fight for his country, knowing his brother is nearby fighting by his side.

Mike Stahlschmidt, 24, is a student at Mizzou, one of 11 kids, but he’s closest with his four brothers, Joshua, Peter, Samuel and Daniel, each one destined to serve in Iraq.

In fact, the youngest, Daniel is already there.

“He was kind of the younger one (Daniel). The tag along in that regard, for him to have to go through harder things than I’ve seen is just like…” Mike had a hard time finishing his sentence.

Stahlschmidt said it’s no coincidence he and his brothers want to serve their country.

“I think a lot of it had to do with the way we saw 9-11 happen,” Mike said. “I think that had a lot to do with it. Because after that happened, everyone in the family was ready to do what they had to do to defend the country.”

Mike went with his older brother Peter to enlist, but a knee injury kept him back from basic training.

Now, he will be the only one of the oldest brothers left to comfort his mom.

The military plans to keep all four brothers stationed in separate locations to avoid losing more than one. Stahlschmidt said that doesn’t make things easier.

“The fact that three brothers come back isn’t enough for me,” Mike said. “I want all four of them to come back. I don’t care what the cost is, what the price is.”

Mike Stahlschmidt plans to see his oldest brother, Joshua, off when he deploys at the end of June.

He said for the next 18 months, he’ll have at least one brother in Iraq and he won’t be able to rest easy until they are all back home.

Four sons in Iraq? FOUR! I can’t IMAGINE how this will be bearable for this family. I can’t sleep at night with one son over there, but four!

I. Can’t. Imagine.

h/t: Argghhh!