Wednesday, May 03 2006 @ 06:57 AM MDT
Contributed by: tomw
Views: 1,072
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KTEN.COM -- UNDATED LaNita Herlem says she couldn't have asked for a better husband. Staff Sergeant Bryant A. Herlem of Killeen died Friday when an improvised explosive device detonated near his Humvee during combat operations in Baghdad.
The soldier loved to play childish practical jokes on his buddies, like throwing stink bombs into the bathroom. He liked video games and collected G-I Joes. He loved passing out soccer balls and stuffed animals to Iraqi children.
Herlem was a carpenter and kept up with repairs around the house and his neighborhood.
He was raised by his grandparents in Whittier, California. He and his wife, who is from Bassett, Virginia, met when both were stationed at Fort Ord, California. She is no longer in the Army.
Herlem had been on active and reserve duty since 1986. He had been at Fort Hood since 1998, except for one stint at Fort Riley, Kansas, and two trips to Korea.
From Iraq, he communicated with his wife twice a day through the Internet.
Herlem was at least the 15th Texas service members have died in Iraq in 2006, and at least 206 have died since the war began in March 2003, according to the Defense Department. |
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I would like to say thank you to you and the other soldier who was killed in that blast with you for your service and sacrifice for our Country. And to your family, I wish to extend my deepest sympathy.
"Ready And Forward"(10th Cav Motto)