Rare father-son team, from Van Nuys and Whittier, joins Army

Rare father-son team, from Van Nuys and Whittier, joins Army


Recruits Gary Rankins, 40, and his son Joseph, 19, sign up together. New age limits make such a pairing possible, and the tough economy provided a nudge.
By Jia-Rui Chong, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
July 8, 2008
At the Van Nuys Army recruiting station last week, Gary J. Rankins ordered his son Joseph M. Rankins to drop to the floor and do some push-ups. As the 19-year-old pumped up and down, the 40-year-old father checked out his son's form.

"You shouldn't go down so far," the elder told the younger. "You'll only wear yourself out."

Gary Rankins should know. He served in the Army from 1986 to 1994. About a month ago, he got frustrated about his job prospects and decided to enlist again. He persuaded his son to join the Army a few weeks after that.

They plan to swear in together this week. "We're just waiting on my blood work," Gary Rankins said Monday.
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