Lt. Brian Bradshaw - Someone you should know

Back on the day of Michael Jackson's death, I wrote:

While the focus today, tomorrow and for the next God-knows-how-many-days will be the death of a pop culture icon; while many will mourn, wail and quite literally make fools of themselves over it and while as many will speak endlessly about it, allow me, if only for a moment, to remind us all that others have died this month; others whose lives were cut short; others who leave behind loved ones and whose families will dearly miss them; families who'll suffer with much more dignity and honor than we'll be exposed to on the tube in the coming days. 

Yes... it's true... we've suffered a great loss... but forgive me while I tell you that I'm not talking about the king of pop music.

Today, via BlackFive, I've found a name we can attach to that great loss that was suffered on June 25th, someone whose death I believe we should all truly mourn:

We were crew members on the C-130 that flew in to pick up Lt. Brian Bradshaw after he was killed. We are Georgia Air National Guardsmen deployed to Afghanistan for Operation Enduring Freedom. We support the front-line troops by flying them food, water, fuel, ammunition and just about anything they need to fight. On occasion we have the privilege to begin the final journey home for our fallen troops. Below are the details to the best of our memory about what happened after Brian's death.

We landed using night-vision goggles. Because of the blackout conditions, it seemed as if it was the darkest part of the night. As we turned off the runway to position our plane, we saw what appeared to be hundreds of soldiers from Brian's company standing in formation in the darkness. Once we were parked, members of his unit asked us to shut down our engines. This is not normal operating procedure for that location. We are to keep the aircraft's power on in case of maintenance or concerns about the hostile environment. The plane has an extremely loud self-contained power unit. Again, we were asked whether there was any way to turn that off for the ceremony that was going to take place. We readily complied after one of our crew members was able to find a power cart nearby. Another aircraft that landed after us was asked to do the same. We were able to shut down and keep lighting in the back of the aircraft, which was the only light in the surrounding area. We configured the back of the plane to receive Brian and hurried off to stand in the formation as he was carried aboard.

Brian's whole company had marched to the site with their colors flying prior to our arrival. His platoon lined both sides of our aircraft's ramp while the rest were standing behind them. As the ambulance approached, the formation was called to attention. As Brian passed the formation, members shouted "Present arms" and everyone saluted. The salute was held until he was placed inside the aircraft and then the senior commanders, the sergeant major and the chaplain spoke a few words.

Afterward, we prepared to take off and head back to our base. His death was so sudden that there was no time to complete the paperwork needed to transfer him. We were only given his name, Lt. Brian Bradshaw. With that we accepted the transfer. Members of Brian's unit approached us and thanked us for coming to get him and helping with the ceremony. They explained what happened and how much his loss was felt. Everyone we talked to spoke well of him -- his character, his accomplishments and how well they liked him. Before closing up the back of the aircraft, one of Brian's men, with tears running down his face, said, "That's my platoon leader, please take care of him."

There's more... and it should be read by you and those you come into contact with.

Yes... pass it on.  And may God rest Mr. Bradshaw and may He comfort and console those he's left behind.

Comments

[Locutisprime]

Thank you for sharing this update Rick. I am proud of him and his fellow soldiers and our ANG troops who passed along to his family, the real story that never gets reported.

Semper Fi.

[Rick Nickles]

There has been a lot of discussion about the coverage of Michael Jackson vs. Lt. Brian Bradshaw - the life that Michael Jackson lived versus the life of Lt. Bradshaw, etc - and the unfairness of all this. But, so much of this is because of the following fact - that Michael Jackson was already a household name prior to his death. Before these men died, I knew who Michael Jackson was - I had never heard of Lt. Bradshaw. Certain people have national name recognition through a great deal of promoting and advertising. I'm sure money has something to do with this also. But isn't it a thing where it has to do with how many people knew about Michael Jackson before he died?

[tim aka The Godless Heathen]

"But isn't it a thing where it has to do with how many people knew about Michael Jackson before he died? "

That, and our celebrity obsessed, idol worshipping, shallow minded and vapid culture.

While many people know the number of people who have died in Iraq and Afghanistan, for the wrong reasons mind you, how many know one of those brave souls by name? What about the Medal of Honor Recipients?

Now how many of those people who can’t answer those questions could rattle off a list of celebrities they like?

So it’s not so much that we are interested in famous people but rather the inattention to those that truly deserve it – those that are sacrificing so much for us, sometimes with their very lives.