LAKE WORTH, FL, USA U.S. Army SPC, A CO, 3D BN, 69TH ARMOR, 3D INF DIV, (TF DTAS) FORT STEWART, GA TIKRIT, IRAQ 02/13/2005
Army Private First Class David J. Brangman, of Fort Worth, Florida, was home-schooled and entered the Army in February 2003, one month before the U.S. invasion of Iraq. He joined up both to earn money for college and after being profoundly affected by the Sept. 11 attacks.
His mother, Inez Ortiz, says David wanted to do something for his country. And that’s what he did. He loved to draw and dreamed of being an architect. His mother said she had never seen her son more proud than when he showed up at her job in uniform. “He was the most handsomest I’d ever seen him,” she said. “He’s still my baby, but he learned to be a man.”
David was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Georgia. He died Feb. 13, 2005 in Uvanni, Iraq, when a mortar round struck his vehicle in Samarra. He was stationed at Fort Stewart and his death came 10 days after his 20th birthday.
Some comments from his comrades include:
“I am Jack Lawrence III, I was SPC Brangman’s Squad Leader at the time of his passing. I couldn’t have had a better soldier and friend. He always told me about his family and how he wanted his life to be when he got back to the states. The day he passed away, I told him I would talk to him later when he came off guard, he said, ‘Okay sergeant, I will talk to you later.’ He was very special person. He was truly a great young man to be around.”Jack Lawrence III, Iraq
“I had the pleasure of being your friend and roommate at building 634 at Stewart for 10 months. I will never forget the times we spent in there and the conversations that I will treasure for a lifetime. You are by far one of the most unique and special individuals I have met in my entire life and I will miss you forever. I remember telling you at brass field that ‘every day I see Brangman it brings a smile to my face.’ It’s hard to think about coming back home without you, but I know you would want me to drive on and just be hasty.”
PFC Aaron Hestand, Samarra, Iraq
“You were a great soldier always brightened up the day with your witty comments. You were a great man and would have been an awesome uncle.”Richard Landenberg, Fort Stewart, Ga.
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