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Brett Wightman

SABINA, OH, U.S.A.

U.S. MARINE CORPS

LCPL, 3RD BN, 25TH MAR REG, 4TH MARDIV, MARFORRES, COLUMBUS, OH

08/03/2005, HADITHA, IRAQ


LCPL Brett Wightman was born in 1983 in Sabina, Ohio. He was a 2002 graduate of East Clinton High School. During his high school career, he was a track star, captain of the football team and homecoming king. Brett’s mission was to help others. Driven by this passion, Brett Wightman enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 2003.

Growing up, “He would play with those G.I. Joes and he’d say, ‘I’m going to grow up and be one of these guys.’ All of his life, that’s all he would talk about,” according to Missy Luttrell, LCPL Wightman’s aunt. Family members said he was proud of his military service and planned to re-enlist in the Marines in October.

Brett Wightman deployed to Iraq in 2005. In August of 2005, the Sabina-native was one of 14 Marines killed in a roadside bombing in northern Iraq.

LCPL Brett Wightman’s mother, Pam Saville, cherished only son’s last words. Replaying the last message he left on her answering machine: “Hey Mom, this is Brett. Just calling to see what’s going on and to let you know I’m OK. Talk to you later. Goodbye.”

“I knew Brett was there and I knew he wasn’t coming home,” Pam Saville said.

“It didn’t take going to Iraq for him to be a hero to me. He’ll always be my hero. He always was,” said Stephanie Finley, Brett Wightman’s sister.

LCPL Wightman’s former teammates and friends said he was the type of person who would do anything for you. In the end, they said he gave his life so they could be free.

“The world’s going to be a lesser place without him. We’ll all miss him very much,” Schuyler Streber added.

The 22-year-old Marine reservist’s death touched many people in his hometown of Sabina, Ohio. LCPL Wightman’s legacy for service lives on through the Brett Wightman Foundation established to remember and celebrate the young Marine.

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