Ep 17: To Protect and To Serve, Spc Joseph Kennedy
America's Memory
Military history. Story of a fallen hero from war in Afghanistan
info_outline
Ep 16: Big Brother, Major Samuel Griffith
America's Memory
A Major who served in the war in Afghanistan pays the ultimate sacrifice and this is his powerful story.
info_outline
Ep 15: The Right Guy, William "Chief" Carlson
America's Memory
CIA Operative and former Delta Force who paid ultimate sacrifice in Afghanistan War
info_outline
Ep 14: In Harm's Way, Sgt Anthony Maddox
America's Memory
Sgt Anthony Maddox is one of the over 2,400 fallen US Military from the war in Afghanistan and this is his story.
info_outline
Ep 13: Born to Serve, Cpl Jacob Leicht
America's Memory
Story of fallen hero from the war in Afghanistan
info_outline
Ep 12: Second Chances, HM2 Clayton Beauchamp
America's Memory
The story of a man from Texas who paid the ultimate sacrifice in the war in Afghanistan.
info_outline
Ep. 11: They Call Me Doc, Spc Jerod Osborne
America's Memory
The story of an Army medic who paid the ultimate sacrifice in the war in Afghanistan
info_outline
Ep 10: Wounds Unseen, SSgt Jeffrey Reber
America's Memory
Jeffrey Reber was an American hero. The list of Marines willing to praise his battlefield leadership is long and distinguished. Many of them would suggest they’re alive today because of his split-second decisions during combat.
info_outline
Ep 9: The Moose, SSG Curtis Oakes
America's Memory
The story of one of the fallen US military from the war in Afghanistan
info_outline
Ep 8: Tip of the Spear, Mike Spann (CIA)
America's Memory
The first US casualty in the war in Afghanistan was Johnny Mike Spann.
info_outlineAn amazing photo from Afghanistan emerged in 2011 of a soldier kissing the helmet atop the battlefield cross for SSG Bryan Burgess. The 101st Airborne Screaming Eagle patch is prominent on medic Brit Jacob’s arm as his hand holds the back of the helmet.
The symbolic act signified something Burgess had done to each of his soldiers prior to a mission. He did this as an act of leadership, sacrifice, and resolve.
His fellow soldiers are quick to speak well of him. They believe he epitomized the selfless, steadfast squad leader; the model leader who didn’t seek credit or complain when events deteriorated. He wasn’t simply a good soldier; he was an outstanding one.
It sounds cliché, but one soldier said he’d follow him to Hell and back. He placed himself in harm’s way often, and they knew they could count on him in the toughest of situations.
He was the kind of man others named their children after, as his commanding officer Tye Reedy did, using the name Bryan for his son. Reedy considered Burgess a man of few words.
Reserved. A silent professional. During the Battle of Barawala Kalay Valley, Burgess gave the ultimate sacrifice for his country.
Bryan Burgess grew up in Cleburne, Texas, thirty miles south of Fort Worth. It’s one of those typical Texas towns passionate about football, cowboy boots, and hard work.
He was well liked by classmates and active in sports but loved soccer the most. He had great concern for his family’s safety, often concerned about someone staying out too late or reminding them to buckle their seatbelt.
After his 1999 high school graduation, he worked for an armored car manufacturer and attended classes at nearby Hill College.
The events of 9/11 changed everyone, and Burgess was no different. He vowed to fight back—for himself and his country. His father, Terry Burgess, said, “He was going to war to fight an enemy that had killed Americans on American soil. Bryan didn't know the victim's names, but he fully intended to avenge them.”
Military service ran through his family with a great-grandfather who had served in World War I, a grandfather in Korea, and an uncle who served in Germany. He chose the army and the infantry so that he could get into the fight. His 2003 transformation from civilian to soldier was notable after basic training, as he lost weight and toned up.
He embraced all the army offered becoming jump qualified and working toward Ranger qualification. Like many, he earned a nickname—the Cookie Monster—for stealing everyone’s cookies, including the First Sergeant’s.
No cookies were safe around him, as one would say, including the one about to enter your mouth.
For the rest of this podcast click the link and listen