MJ Vs Lt. Bradshaw

[Guest CA]

A Life of Worth, Overlooked

July 5th, 2009

My nephew, Brian Bradshaw, was killed by an explosive device in Afghanistan on June 25, the same day that Michael Jackson died. Mr. Jackson received days of wall-to-wall coverage in the media. Where was the coverage of my nephew or the other soldiers who died that week? There were several of them, and our family crossed paths with the family of another fallen soldier at Dover Air Force Base, where the bodies come "home." Only the media in Brian's hometown and where he was stationed before his deployment covered his death.

I remember Brian as a toddler wandering around in cowboy boots and hat, not seeing the need for any other clothing. He grew into a thoroughly decent person with a wry sense of humor. He loved wolves and history. Most Christmases, I gave him a biography or some analysis of the Civil War. He read such things for pleasure.

He had old-fashioned values and believed that military service was patriotic and that actions counted more than talk. He wasn't much for talking, although he could communicate volumes with a raised eyebrow.

He was a search-and-rescue volunteer, an altar boy, a camp counselor. He carried the hopes and dreams of his parents willingly on his shoulders. What more than that did Michael Jackson do or represent that earned him memorial "shrines," while this soldier's death goes unheralded?

It makes me want to scream.

MARTHA GILLIS

Springfield

Washington Post

July 15, 2009

Pg. 19

A Soldier Comes Home

On July 5, The Post published a letter from Martha Gillis of Springfield, whose nephew, Lt. Brian Bradshaw, was killed in Afghanistan on June 25, the day that Michael Jackson died. The letter criticized the extensive media coverage of Jackson's death compared with the brief coverage of Lt. Bradshaw's death. Among the responses was the following letter, written July 9 by an Air National Guard pilot and a fellow member of the crew that flew Lt. Bradshaw's body from a forward base in Afghanistan to Bagram Air Base. Capt. James Adair, one of the plane's pilots, asked the editorial page staff to forward the letter to the Bradshaw family. He and Brian Bradshaw's parents then agreed to publication of these excerpts.

Dear Bradshaw Family,

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."

We taxied back on the runway, and, as we began rolling for takeoff, I looked to my right. Brian's platoon had not moved from where they were standing in the darkness. As we rolled past, his men saluted him one more time; their way to honor him one last time as best they could. We will never forget this.

We completed the short flight back to Bagram Air Base. After landing, we began to gather our things. As they carried Brian to the waiting vehicle, the people in the area, unaware of our mission, stopped what they were doing and snapped to attention. Those of us on the aircraft did the same. Four soldiers who had flown back with us lined the ramp once again and saluted as he passed by. We went back to post-flight duties only after he was driven out of sight.

Later that day, there was another ceremony. It was Bagram's way to pay tribute. Senior leadership and other personnel from all branches lined the path that Brian was to take to be placed on the airplane flying him out of Afghanistan. A detail of soldiers, with their weapons, lined either side of the ramp just as his platoon did hours before. A band played as he was carried past the formation and onto the waiting aircraft. Again, men and women stood at attention and saluted as Brian passed by. Another service was performed after he was placed on the aircraft.

For one brief moment, the war stopped to honor Lt. Brian Bradshaw. This is the case for all of the fallen in Afghanistan. It is our way of recognizing the sacrifice and loss of our brothers and sisters in arms. Though there may not have been any media coverage, Brian's death did not go unnoticed. You are not alone with your grief. We mourn Brian's loss and celebrate his life with you. Brian is a true hero, and he will not be forgotten by those who served with him.

We hope knowing the events that happened after Brian's death can provide you some comfort.

Sincerely,

Capt. James Adair

Master Sgt. Paul Riley

GA ANG 774 EAS Deployed

[slacker]

Good on the crew for writing to the family. Their letter should put a lump in the throat of any American.

[BQZip01]

[Stuck]

[Guest ShaneTrain24]

An old Army buddy of mine from down the hall (When in ROTC) wrote this about Lt Bradshaw. Thought I would share it as it obviously relates.

What the ###### did Micheal Jackson ever do for you? He wrote songs and creeped out america. Everyone is so wrapped up in this shit no pays attention to anything else. News Networks will not stop talking about him, showing the same stock footage over and over, and lauding him for his acomplishments (wasnt it just a month ago you called him a pedophile??) Instead of mouring some selfish asshole who probably killed himself through pain killers, why dont you take a look at ANY one of 5,000 men and women who died for something greater than themselves. Who died so someone else wouldnt. Who died helping a people we dont really understand.

Here is just one story about my best friend and roomate: 1LT Brian Bradshaw

I met him at temporary duty in Fort lewis, Washington. When we moved to Fort Benning, GA, he became my roomate. Over the next year we were in the same platoon or squad throughout all of our training. We carpooled, went to movies together, partied together, worked together, sweated together. He sometimes was awkward and annoying. He liked different foods...he was definetly "west cost." No matter what our friendship looked like at the time, I never for one second felt that i couldnt depend on him to be there for me whenever...where ever...and for whatever.

To be honest, he more than anyone else pushed me the hardest. He never said a word, never chewed me out, but rather his example of how to work and operate set the standard where ever we went.

Training ended and we parted ways to different units. I deployed to Iraq in october, soon after, he deployed to Afghanistan. Two shit holes very far away from everything we loved and worked for. Every once in a while one of us would drop a line. For a long time I wanted to ask the recipe for an aweome steak marinade he made one day. I put it off because it was one more of those things "i'll take care of when we get back"

His battalion was doing a very large combat logistics patrol from the battalion FOB in Afghanistan to FOB Kushamond (C Company, where Brian was). His platoon was one of the many elements that was dispatched along that RTE to provide security and interdict IED emplacement.

On 25JUN the convoy struck an IED that damaged a jingle truck. Brian and guys from his platoon dismounted and started assessing the damage. While dismounted, he stepped on the pressure plate of a secondary IED. It was a container (I think ammo can) packed with explosives and ball bearings. In all likelihood, he died instantly.

That evening, his body was flown into FOB Sharana. Another one of my best friends from Benning was there, along with other officers from that unit. They carried his body from the helicopter to the FLA, where they placed an american flag over him. After his autopsy was performed, they were allowed to enter the room mand witsness his last rights.

He was flown to BAF that night; his parents were notified several hours later.

[Herk Driver]

Good on the crew for writing to the family. Their letter should put a lump in the throat of any American.

2

[Spoo]

Well done GA ANG.

[Timbonez]

Thank you Lt Bradshaw, Capt Adair & crew.

I hate to post this, but I think it is important to remember that after Lt Bradshaw died for his country, the leadership of that same country was doing this:

How's that make you feel?

Edited July 16, 2009 by Timbonez

[tankerbum]

Martha Gillis was featured on Sunday Morning on CBS this past weekend during the opinion segment. Touching and dead on correct. Here is the link to the video:

Martha Gillis on Sunday Morning

[Scooter14]

[Bergman]

Thank you Lt Bradshaw, Capt Adair & crew.

I hate to post this, but I think it is important to remember that after Lt Bradshaw died for his country, the leadership of that same country was doing this:

How's that make you feel?

What a bunch of assholes. Fuck them!

(I work for Mel Brooks!)

[Guest CA]

Thank you Lt Bradshaw, Capt Adair & crew.

I hate to post this, but I think it is important to remember that after Lt Bradshaw died for his country, the leadership of that same country was doing this:

How's that make you feel?

What's the video about? YouTube is blocked here.

[Timbonez]

What's the video about? YouTube is blocked here.

They took a moment of silence to praise Michael Jackson and all that he's done. And some other MJ bullshit.

[Spoo]

They took a moment of silence to praise Michael Jackson and all that he's done. And some other MJ bullshit.

"They" being congress, right? What a bunch of crap. I mean grade 'A' shit. And we pay these touch-holes?

[Guest CA]

They took a moment of silence to praise Michael Jackson and all that he's done. And some other MJ bullshit.

I wonder if they've taken 5032 moment's of silence over the deaths of those who fight so those douche bags can waste time 'honoring' a child molester.

[Timbonez]

"They" being congress, right? What a bunch of crap. I mean grade 'A' shit. And we pay these touch-holes?

Yeah, Congress. Sorry about that.

[HerkDerka]

Ugh. Does every celebrity that dies deserve nationwide rememberance? I don't mean to be cruel, but who cares about Michael Jackson? Seriously, he was popular as a joke longer than he was as a singer. Not to mention, he was just a star child who ended up being a sick pedophile. Call me crazy, but I think congress could do better things with a moment of their time than remember Michael Jackson.

HD

[contraildash]

"They" being congress, right? What a bunch of crap. I mean grade 'A' shit. And we pay these touch-holes?

A 2 on that!

And man that video by Martha Gillis is great and damn touching...1st Lt. Brian Bradshaw's mother getting the flag is rough. If that doesn't tug at your heart, I don't know what will....