Updated

Two brothers from suburban New York City have each been awarded a Bronze Star for their service in Afghanistan.

The Journal News reports Sunday that Staff Sgt. Richard Pisano Jr. and 1st Lt. Nick Pisano were awarded the honor in March.

The paper says the brothers were assigned to the same Army division by chance, even spending a Christmas together in a mortar pit at Kandahar Airfield.

Twenty-four-year-old Nick Pisano didn't describe the circumstances surrounding his award.

But 44-year-old Richard tells the newspaper his was for certain acts defending the airfield over the course of nine months.

The two returned home last month.

Their mother, Kathy Pisano, says their coming home ceremony at Fort Drum took her breath away.