Note: Last week on Flag Day, Parkesburg Today remembered Brandon Hardy, a 1999 Octorara grad who lost his life in 2006 when an IED exploded under his convoy while on the Iraqi battlefield.
Each morning as I update the "Lest We Forget" section (in the upper left hand corner of the screen) of Parkesburg Today, my thoughts turn to the Hardy's and the 6,057 other families across the United States who have lost a son or daughter in combat since the United States entered the War on Terror in 2001.
Through Your Doors, a new magazine focused on the West Grove, Nottingham, Lincoln University, Oxford and Avondale areas, published a wonderful profile of Brandon, his brother Chad, a US Marine currently stationed in Afghanistan, and the entire Hardy family earlier this month.
Parkesburg Today thanks the publishers of Through Your Doors and the Hardy family for allowing the entire profile to be posted below.
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Corporal Brandon Hardy
By Jennifer Popiel
A vivacious child who was always donning a cowboy hat, Brandon Hardy made a brave and honorable decision at the young age of 10.
While watching news unfold of “Operation Desert Storm” in 1991, he turned to his parents Jill and Warren stating with strong conviction, “I want to serve my Country.”
Taking his role very seriously as a big brother, Brandon was adored by his younger siblings Chad, Kristin (“Kiki”) and Keri and were proud of him for never wavering from a passionate decision to enlist in the military.
One month after graduating from Octorara High School he left for basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, TX.
Despite an exemplary record accompanied by an unforgettable experience serving in the Air Force for five years, Brandon had a strong desire deep within to continue defending his Country from a different perspective.
On January 18, 2005, he forgo the rank of Staff Sergeant and left for Marine Corps Boot Camp at Parris Island, SC - after completing 21 grueling weeks of training instead of the average 13 due to contracting double viral pneumonia, Brandon graduated.
During a 10-day pre-deployment leave, Brandon visited with family, friends and to propose to his girlfriend, Samantha DiGrazio who said yes.
While home, mom recalls him opening a USMC manual for her to read Article 1, Code of Conduct: “I am an American, fighting in the forces which guard my Country and our way of life. I am prepared to give my life in their defense.”
Then he explained, “This is me. That is the way I feel mom.”
Corporal Hardy and his unit, 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion were deployed to Iraq on March 27, 2006; the following month while returning from an aid and assist mission, their vehicle struck an IED killing Hardy and two of his fellow Marines, Sergeant Lea R. Mills and Sergeant Edward G. Davis III.
“We had heard from Brandon on a Tuesday morning just before he was killed three days later,” said mom Jill. “He always loved kids and was telling us about a five-year old girl named Raja from the local village; he said, mom, she is so cute and sweet, I just want to take her home.”
Any time Corporal Hardy was on patrol, he made a special visit to Raja and her neighborhood providing them with supplies.
“They were so grateful for anything you could give to them,” said Jill.
As the family traveled to the funeral services from Parkesburg, they witnessed an indescribable outpouring of community support where thousands of people along an 8 ½ mile stretch of highway stood in honor of Corporal Brandon Hardy.
“I wanted to hug each and every one of them,” said Jill. “My brother said, I might lose everything in my life, but I will never forget that moment.”
“Five years later, strangers still send us cards, stop us in the grocery store, all to show their support.”
A difficult ordeal for the entire family, Jill explained their timeline for recalling dates is before and after Brandon died - each of them coping differently, holidays, as well as birthdays remain the toughest.
Although Jill Hardy wrote a personal letter to former President, George W. Bush explaining that Brandon was honored to die for his country, a part of her needed to tell him personally.
When she read in a newspaper that the president was scheduled to visit Lancaster for a Town Hall meeting, she decided to inquire with the White House if she could be there.
Given the approval at the last-minute, Jill, Chad and Keri attended as special guests in the front row, but were later escorted to a private room.
What unraveled before them is a moment no one can take away – “the door opened and President Bush entered - no one else accompanied him in the room,” said Jill.
“We all stood up. I went to shake his hand; instead he hugged me. I looked at him and he had tears running down his face so I said, I guess you know why we are here.”
The Hardy family spent a 25 minute one-on-one private conversation with the president who sat next to them on the couch with his cowboy boots resting on the coffee table.
“He was so genuine, like an old friend we hadn’t seen in awhile; I did not feel like he was fulfilling an obligation to us,” said Jill.
Before departing, he solemnly stated, “I know that it was my decision to put your son in harms way; I do not take that decision lightly and I think about it everyday.”
The family received a phone call later that evening from the White House asking if the visit was ok.
Jill exclaimed, “the honor was all ours.”
The representative responded, “No. The honor was all his.”
Jill exclaimed, “the honor was all ours.”
The representative responded, “No. The honor was all his.”
While alone later that same night, Jill heard a quiet voice from Brandon saying, “thanks mom!”
“Now whether or not it was Brandon’s actual presence or God comforting us, that moment was the icing on the cake for me,” she said with tears in her eyes.
Corporal Chad Hardy
With the same passion to enlist in the military as his big brother, Chad Hardy left for Marine Corps Boot Camp on June 15, 2008.
“We received some scrutiny from a few people for allowing Chad to serve after the death of Brandon,” said Jill. “We raised our children to be independent and to go for their goals; who am I to stop them.”
8 ½ years apart in age, both Chad and Brandon look alike and according to mom, also sound alike too. “They were best friends first and brothers second. Brandon was Chad’s hero and mentor.”
While in attendance for Brandon’s boot camp graduation day, there is a “motivational run” where all the recruits run in cadence. “It’s pretty awesome,” said Jill. At that time, Chad turned to her and said, “will you be here four years from now?”
She responded, “I don’t know, am I?”
Chad answered, “Absolutely!”
The family reassured Chad that no one would think anything less of him if he reconsidered his decision, but somehow Chad became even more determined as if he knew it was something he needed to do.
During the family’s private conversation with former President George W. Bush he said with sincerity, “You know Chad, it is very admirable of you to know firsthand what can happen and to still have that conviction in your life.”
On November 4, 2010, Chad and his unit 1/10 Bravo Battery were deployed to Afghanistan. In a hostile area of the mountains where the most deaths and injuries occur, Chad is only able to call home every 10 days during rotations.
However, sometimes the days are longer due to down communication or unforeseen delays and that is when the family gets very anxious to hear news from Chad.
“My husband and I find ourselves checking the casualty page every day and our hearts mourn for those families,” said Jill.
One day Chad came down from their post to find his first big batch of goodies from home. “Mom,” he said, “I got 26 boxes today.”
Many of the boxes were from the community back home – some from people they do not know. It took Chad and his crew several trips to transport (on foot) the boxes to their post.
“It is that kind of support that we are so grateful for,” said Jill. “I cannot say thank you enough.”
Kristin and Keri whose birthdays are 10 days apart, miss their brothers terribly, however Chad was able to surprise them with a simple birthday card all the way from Afghanistan.
Chad wrote home saying, “I’m sorry girls, it is the only card you’re getting because it is the only one they have.” Little things go a long way - they were simply thrilled.
Unfortunately, Chad will not be home for his sister’s wedding on May 14 this year, but he is scheduled to return home for his wedding day on July 2 to marry fiancé Alicia Eldredge – a highly-anticipated celebration for everyone.
Every day the family and close-knit community continue to pray for his safe return home.
_______________________
Post Script - Today's Washington Post has a story of the trip a soldier's body makes from Dover Air Force Base, where American war dead return to U.S. soil, to the fallen warrior's home town of Woodstown, NJ.
Along the 60 mile trip, 20 bikers on Harleys guide the silver hearse and thousands break away from their daily routine to pay honor to the fallen warrior/soldier.
A couple of days later as the soldier's body is carried to the cemetery for burial, one woman, the wife of a deceased Vietnam veteran, keeps quiet vigil along the road leading to the cemetery. She didn't know the soldier but recognizes "many of the more than 300 mourners who are driving slowly past her on their way to the cemetery."
As first the hearse and then the procession of mourners pass by, the woman bites her lip, chokes back tears and says:
“Today that soldier is everyone’s brother, he’s everyone’s son.”So it is with Brandon Hardy and each of the soldiers memorialized each day at Parkesburg Today. While far away and easily forgotten, our Country's wars are real.
Real for the families of the fallen, and by extension, for all Americans.
Each of the soldiers fighting way over there, so far removed from our day-to-day lives, are our sons and daughters, our brothers and sisters.
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