What started out as a high school date for Jeremy and Katie Turbyfill, now both members of the U.S. military, has transformed into a committed marriage, coupled with a strong sense of what it means to serve their country.
Jeremy and Katie met after school in the parking lot of Green High School at the end of their junior year.
“I was waiting with my friends, sitting on the top of my 1987 RX-7 when I saw her walking up to the school. We started talking and flirting right away,” said Jeremy. “I could tell she was different; that sounds like a cliché but it's true.”
The two started dating November 2005. Both planned for the relationship to be a casual, temporary thing, considering Jeremy had already signed up to join the Air Force and Katie would be leaving for college at the end of the summer.
“He wasn't interested in having a girlfriend before he left [for basic training], but obviously something changed his mind,” said Katie.
As the couple spent time together they began realizing that breaking up was not something they wanted to do.
"I fell hard and fast for him and I'm pretty sure he did the same," said Katie.
When Jeremy left for basic training in September 2006, he knew that he was going to ask Katie to marry him, he just wasn't sure of the right time to do so.
While at Basic, the couple was allowed to talk on the phone on occasion. When Katie visited him for graduation of Basic Training, he popped the question and Katie said yes. The two were only 18-years-old at the time and "her parents rightfully freaked out," said Jeremy.
Katie knew her engagement at a young age was stressful for her parents, but she felt she was doing the right thing and followed her heart.
"A separation, especially a military one changes you. I knew we were young and probably had no idea what life was going to hold for us, but I also knew we truly loved each other and we could make it through anything," said Katie.
While at tech school, Jeremy was able to make phone calls to Katie anytime after duty hours, which was usually around 5 p.m. but they were still unable to see each other. By the time Jeremy graduated tech school, Katie had planned her dream wedding. They married on May 11, 2007 on the beach at Beasley Park in Fort Walton Beach, Florida surrounded by family.
In June 2008, the couple decided to buy their first home. About six month after that, Katie began thinking of joining the Air Force. Soon they went to the recruiter to enroll her in Basic Training.
Before Katie was shipped off to Basic, Jeremy was offered an opportunity to deploy to Iraq, which he took.
“Some wives might be horrified that their husbands actually volunteered to deploy, but I've always known that this is a part of him and that's what I love about him,” said Katie.
Katie left for Basic in November 2009, a month after Jeremy was to be in Iraq. They couple said their goodbyes in late September knowing they would not be living together until Katie finished tech school sometime around July 2010.
Jeremy is still in Iraq now and Katie has since graduated from Basic and is in tech school training to be a geospatial interpreter. Jeremy is usually able to call or instant message Katie each night for about an hour. They also keep in touch via email.
“We talk about the good things rather than dwelling on the loneliness and that helps us get through a little easier,” said Katie.
According to Jeremy, they couldn't be more proud of each other and their separation teaches them not to take each other for granted. The couple has big plans for their future. Jeremy wants to pursue a master's degree. He isn't sure whether he wants to make a career out of his military work or work for a company such as Boeing. Katie would like to attend culinary school to become a pastry chef and one day open a cake shop. They have dreams of traveling and are planning a vacation to Europe after Katie finishes tech school. The couple should be stationed at the same base after Katie finishes school in about five months.
“I would really love to settle down in one place and be able to call home for more than a couple years," she said. "We both really love Colorado. Maybe someday… we'll see.”
