MESA, AZ, US
U.S. Army
SFC, CO A, 1ST BN, 5TH INF RGT, 1 SBCT, FORT WAINWRIGHT, AK
11/13/2011, KAF ROLE 3 HOSPITAL, AFGHANISTAN
Sergeant First Class Johnathan “Bryant” McCain, 38, died Nov. 13, 2011, in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan, of injuries suffered while on mounted patrol. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Ft Wainwright, Alaska. Bryant was born in Normal, Illinois and grew up in Chandler, AZ. He was a loving husband a wonderful father.
Sergeant First Class McCain was assigned to 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Fort Wainwright, Alaska; died Nov. 13, 2011 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of injuries caused by an improvised explosive device. Sergeant First Class McCain graduated from Chandler High School. He was an avid bow hunter and a talented artist. He and wife, LeAnne, had just celebrated their 19th wedding anniversary.
Sergeant First Class McCain enlisted in the Army in 1992. He served in Kaiserlautern, Germany, Fort Hood, TX and Fort Brag, NC before arriving in Alaska in 2000. He had previously been deployed to Iraq twice, where in one deployment; he had been injured in a mortar attack. He served as a platoon sergeant. Sergeant First Class McCain was eligible for full military retirement in 18 months.
His father, Bob McCain said his son was a talented artist. His work was featured in a 2009 military publication with a photo showing him autographing a print he drew for fellow soldiers in Iraq. He also took beautiful photos of mosques in the towns of Baqubah and Khan Bani Sa’ed which he shared with his close family.
“It just killed me he had to deploy a third time. He was totally 100% in love with the military and his country. He felt what he was doing was needed.”
He is survived by his Wife Leanne (McKinney) McCain of Mesa, AZ, Children Breanna, Ashlyn, Chloe and Wyatt. He is also survived by his Mother Sharon and Stepfather Robert Gainey of South Carolina, his Father Robert and Peggy McCain Gilbert, AZ, his Sister Diana Conner and Brother Phillip McCain
From Johnathan’s mother: To My Dearest Son
I will miss you so much. Your strong personality, true convictions and your incredible patriotism but your smile and your infectious laugh will stay with me forever. You have been such a wonderful blessing and inspiration to me in your short time here. Thank you so much for being our son, an incredible soldier and an awesome husband and father. You will be sorely missed but we will join you someday in our Godly heavens! Thank you son for being my hero!!
Sharon Gainey, Florence, South Carolina