FORT SILL, Okla., May 20, 2016 -- Stories about twins start the same: They did almost everything together.
It was no different for Army chaplains (Maj.) Steve and (Capt.) Scott Tompkins. They ate together, played together and at age 7 the brothers were baptized together at the First Baptist Church in Hays, Kan.
"(Scott) was baptized first and everyone laughed and I didn't know why," said Steve. "When he went under the water his feet went straight up and everyone laughed. I was kind of upset because when I went no one laughed. I didn't know why."
Some of Steve's early memories as children were of him and his brother playing "army" and "church." He said it seemed only fitting that as adults they would find a way to combine the two by becoming Army chaplains.
The road to chaplaincy began after high school. Together they attended Oklahoma Baptist University but were not as serious as they needed to be, said Steve. So they entered the Air Force, first Steve and then Scott a few years later. After their service they used the GI Bill to get their bachelor's degrees before attending seminary, Scott at Dallas Theological Seminary and Steve at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary just an hour away in Fort Worth, Texas.
"He started into seminary first and he was ordained first but we helped each other and tried to take care of each other," said Steve.
After seminary the brothers continued to follow each other as they served in west-Texas churches just a half an hour from each other. The pull to serve his country came once again to Steve and he joined the Army, serving as a chaplain. Scott meanwhile moved to Oklahoma where he pastored three congregations. Scott wasn't immune to the call of serving in the military and a few years later, he joined the Army as well, in the reserves to better continue serving his three churches.
"We just followed each other," said Steve. "Not just with the military. We were best friends. We were always on the phone calling each other, seeing how life was, seeing what each other was up to. We would even talk about church issues or certain career paths and every-day things like uniforms."
Then April 6, Scott passed away in his home in Hobart, Okla. Steve was told the death was a sudden heart attack. Scott was found sitting on a chair, laptop on his lap. There was no sign of struggle or discomfort which was a comfort to Steve.
"He didn't suffer so I'm happy," said Steve who went on to explain how the last message he received from his brother was "LOL" (laughing out loud). "He laughed up to the last second."
Steve said the most difficult part is when he forgets his brother is gone. In the weeks following Scott's death, Steve said he found himself reaching for his phone to call his brother.
"I grieve obviously, but not as those without hope," said Steve. "I know for a fact where he's at and I know I'll see him again one day."
May 13, members of the 316th Quartermaster Battalion, out of Okmulgee, Okla., traveled to Fort Sill for a memorial ceremony in honor of their chaplain, Scott Tompkins. Tompkins' family attended the ceremony which included readings by fellow Soldiers, including Scott's chaplain assistant, Spc. Christian McMurtrey.
"We are here today in remembrance," said McMurtrey. "There will be some grief but let there be celebration as well. He is now home, and he has been looking forward to going home his whole life. All of his questions have now been answered."
Steve said he believes losing his brother will allow him to better understand the grief of those he ministers to. He said as a chaplain, it is difficult to know whether the words he speaks are actually helping the hurting, but now he knows they do.
"The Fort Sill chaplains have offered hope and comfort and I know how I have been ministered to by their words, it's been magnified by a million," said Steve. "Only a grieving person could know."
Steve said his spiritual strength has also helped him.
"My relationship with Christ has really supported me as well," he said. "It's helped myself and my family of course through this a very difficult time."
The legacy left behind by Scott is that of a follower of Jesus Christ, said Steve. He said Scott learned to "keep the main thing in life the main thing" and to "not sweat the small stuff." Steve hopes his legacy will be similar.
"I hope I can follow my brother. If my legacy is that I was like my brother, a follower of Jesus Christ, I would be honored," he said. "I want to live for Jesus as he did. I'm one day closer to seeing him again than I was yesterday."
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