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The Õim brothers are no ordinary family. Four in all, they make up Estonia’s most experienced bunch of combat veterans: 24 foreign missions, 12 combined years spent in the heat of battles.
One family, twelve years on missions
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«I think it’s because of the elder brother Kaido. He it was that went to Bosnia first, in 1996. I was real impressed,» is how Erki, the youngest, explains why these Väike-Maarja guys, one by one, turned into professional soldiers.
True, it didn’t just happen. «It was many years after military service, when the idea came that I’ll have a go, just for once,» recalls Erki. Since 2003, the 1979-born Erki has been to six missions: within three units in Iraq, and as much in Afghanistan. His twin brother Eiko equals his record.
«Our family’s been in the Balkans, Iraq, and Afghanistan. On four missions, I’ve had at least one brother with me,» said Erki. Implicitly, the brothers have also had to watch each other’s back, in the ranks of the same platoon. Amongst themselves, there is no competition. In the family circle, work talk is scarce.
The parents have been reconciled to the career the boys chose. «At first, there was resistance, they didn’t like it. But we have an understanding family – they won’t say: no, you are not going,» said Erki.
Asked about the toughest time at missions, he prefers not to talk. Still, Erki admits that considering the years in combat areas, they have had their share of soldier’s luck: «Two of us have been wounded. That happened at the first Iraq missions, Estpla-7 and Estpla-8.»
On November 2nd 2003, in the morning, the Estonians’ 15-member patrol squad was attacked with four handheld grenades. Four soldiers were slightly wounded, a brother of Erki’s included. Just a couple of months after that, Erki himself was wounded in Estpla-8, as a hand grenade was hurled at them at Abu Ghraib bazaar, exploding in their midst. «The squad leader was engaged in conversation with locals, we were protecting the perimeter. A F1, I think, was thrown into the midst of us, exploding at about 1.5 metres from us,» recalls Erki.
The injuries have not made the men change profession. However, when the majority of his former unit went to reserve or other units, Erki did consider that option. «I thought I’d try something else… But then the call came to another mission, and – off I went again,» he said in explanation.
«Well that’s what they want to do, I wouldn’t bar the way,» the brother’s Mother Elvi Õim told The Evening paper (Õhtuleht) this March. The lady, honoured with Cross of Merit by Ministry of Defence for her sons’ accomplishments, will not deny that the risks are not easy to handle. There have been times when one son arrives from Afghanistan, and another has just departed for that very place. «I think that’s what they are interested in. Why go if there’s no interest. I can tell my sons didn’t go for the money – money would never make up for that,» thinks Elvi Õim.
When will the boys quit their missions? «I have indeed asked. Never got a reply, yet,» answered Elvi.
At the moment, the eldest brother Kaido serves in Afghanistan, as company warrant officer. Eiko is at pre-mission training. Erki is among the men who, in November, go to Afghanistan with the final Estcoy unit.