Obituary: Brandon James Thomas

Brandon James Thomas 1978 ~ 2005 SERGEANT BRANDON JAMES THOMAS, "Beej", transitioned from reality to spirituality on May 7, 2005. Brandon (age 27) was murdered in Baghdad while on a protective detail mission, serving the war effort and the war on terrorism, as a Department of Defense contractor. Al-Qaida in Iraq claimed responsibility for the car bomb. Brandon is our fallen hero. He is survived by his "little" brother Andy; his father, Steve Thomas and stepmother Debby; his mother, Carol Thomas Young and stepfather Brian Young; grandmother, Lorraine Thomas and (special grandma) Harriett Rhea. Many people, who loved him dearly, including his extended family and friends, will miss Brandon. Brandon happily lived every moment with pure excitement. He was an extreme skier, avid golfer, fisherman, and motorcyclist. He loved Jesus, children and proudly serving his country. He personally adopted the Special Forces motto, "De Oppresso Liber"... Freedom to the Oppressed. Brandon was a member of the 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne), Utah Army National Guard. He graduated from Cottonwood High School, class of 1996. He was a ski instructor at Deer Valley. He spoke Spanish and learned Indonesian while finishing his Green Beret Qualification at Ft. Bragg. NC. Services will be held Tues., May 24th, 10:00 a.m., at The Adventure Foursquare Church, 352 W. 12300 S. Draper, UT (801-816-9135). Immediately following church services military honors will be held at the Utah State Veterans Cemetery & Memorial Park, 17111 S. Camp Williams Rd. (Redwood Rd), Bluffdale, UT. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Wasatch Lawn Mortuary.