Bryan E. Bolander, 26

I never met Bryan, I only knew of him. His Godmother is a friend of mine. In 2004, I asked her to ask Bryan for the name of a fellow soldier who I could send packages to in Iraq. Bryan sent me his Sgt. name and we sent packages till they all returned in Sept 2006. In November 2007 Bryan returned to Iraq for his third 15 month tour. The war has been going on for five years, 60 months! And Bryan spent nearly 45 months over there. He served his country, his community with honor. I am surprised there are not more comments about this brave young man.
God bless you Bryan.

I never knew Bryan, however my little brother was one of Bryan's soldiers at the 502nd. He had thought very highly of Bryan and wanted to become a great leader like his Squad Leader Bryan. So I am truly sorry for the family and friends of Bryan God Bless.

I am the mother of Bryan's child Tyler Chase Bolander. I knew him in every way you can know a person. I feel it is simply impossible to try and sum up a person like Bryan in just a few words... "Bryan damn I love(d) you man, I miss you so much. Sorry, for not telling you everyday and for ever causing you any pain, and I am sorry for never telling you what a great dad you were--I was so fortunate to even know you, and thank you so much for this beautiful child."
Thinking of You,
Marcia

Bryan had a code he lived by, he was as sentimental as tough and he was TOUGH. He was hard-headed, and I would say fearless--but I can't say that honestly. No Bryan was ALL Capital letters B.R.A.V.E. Just for a second--during a trip to the E.R. together three months a long in my pregnancy I was having problems. I saw fear flash before his beautiful ice blue eyes for an instant as the doctor probed my belly for the babies heart-beat and ignorantly asked "Are you sure your pregnant ma'am?" I cannot tell you how that stole my breathe. Bryan and I had just seen little baby Tyler on the ultra sound two weeks before. Bryan started to say something to the doctor, but before he could, he was interrupted by the sound of Tyler's heart... "Oh, there he is!" Of course me, I am bawling my eyes out, Bryan he stood there and looked at me so calmly and annoyed (he hated cry babies), but I could see the relief on his face. I don't ever want the world to forget him--the loss of such a bright star. We were never married but we were family. I spent 8 maybe 9 years learning from & maybe even teaching him, arguing & laughing with, but mostly loving Bryan. I look at our beautiful son everyday, and see his face. I cannot and will not EVER-EVER be able to write on some blog on the internet or any where else-the loss, or gut wrenching pain I feel every single day of my life. His smile lit up so many people's lives. Now our son's smile does. Before I close this I would like to add one thing. Bryan planned his whole mid-tour leave around our son's birthday May 31. He wanted to take him to the water park. Not to take anything away from his engagement but those were his FUTURE PLANS. I talked to him almost everyday via Yahoo messenger. Tyler our son was born on Memorial Day. He was due home the 30th the day before Tyler's birthday, he turned six years old without his dad. Instead of spending the day at the water park Tyler had an all star birthday at Chuckie Cheese, he also went and visited his dad at the cemetery and read off his father's head stone as Sandra (Bryan's fiancee photographed him). I simply must say know matter who like it or not Bryan's number one was Tyler and I will fight anyone who dares question that it's not an observation it is a FACT. Loving and respecting you Bryan,
Marcia

Things you may not know about Bryan when he wasn't soldiering; he hated his middle name, he loved the beaches in California, and the band Metallica at least the cd "METALLICA-METALLICA", he wanted to get married to the song "Nothing Else Matters" (at least he did at 20). He loved socks, he wore them all the time and walked around in them without his shoes on, almost every where. So he kept packages and packages of socks (so he would never run out). He liked to talk on the net, play golf and go fishing. He hated whiny cry babies such as myself, but he could be incredibly sweet and romantic and would watch chick flicks as long as he pretended to hate them :-). He took Tyler to Chuckie Cheese almost every time he saw him. I am not sure who had more fun, he was a big kid himself. He loved the movie Night at the Roxbury. Adam Sandler was a big favorite, he liked bud-light in the bottle but if necessary would compromise :-) oh and the Waffle House for after club meals. He didn't really like much sweets, but he loved Honey Buns and porn :-). He was the type a person who could tick you off to such a point and in five seconds make you fall in love with him all over again. He knew how to save his money, he preferred to pay all his bills up front and on time. He hated borrowing money, and almost never would (except for extreme circumstances) and he would pay you RIGHT BACK. He also hated asking people to pay him back, he had a lot of integrity, and was very prideful. He could change his mind in five seconds flat, and could hide his emotions and be a man at all times--at least when he needed to (which was most of the time). I drove him absolutely insane and it took him almost five years to make heads or tails of me, but I am glad he decided to go ahead and love me in the end. When he came around he was the party. He put his country before everything. Therefore his country owes him everything, as do I...
Thinking of you Bryan,
Marcia

OH! He Hated when people spelled his name wrong it is BRYAN not Brian.

My nephew was in the vehicle with Bryan when he was killed. He remains in the hospital to this day recovering from injuries suffered. To Bryan's family and friends, there are no words to express the sadness my family and I feel for your terrible loss. Everything I have read about Bryan since that fateful day tells me he was the type of man that makes us all proud to be Americans. Rest in peace Bryan and to your loved ones, including your son and your parents, I pray that God will bring peace to their hearts.

I am Bryans brother, no one knew him like I did. He was a great brother, friend, and an awesome father. I have so many memories of us growin up, especially of soccer. Bryan was one of a kind, he is in every way just like me but with very few differences. Bryan knew no fear, he did what he was suppose to for the army and for his children. The pain runs deep inside me with a big hole that nothin can fill it. I miss my brother everyday but I know he is with me everyday, no one can tell me any different.

This is a message from all of the soldiers who served with Bryan while in the Duece. To Marcia we are all sorry to hear about your loss; aswell as to Bryans family. We were together in the initial push into Iraq, through all of the training we had to do to prepare he was always pushing other people to stay in and never give up. He will not be forgotten and will always be remembered. After all he was one of the few, like we all were, who were not afraid to do the job that had to be done. Bryan or as we called him "Bo" was always happy if I were to write out all of the things he had done it would fill up a novel. He will be missed. As for the Bryan he had bravery and courage of a spartan but a little known secret was his compassion that he showed when no one was looking, after all it was part of the job. I have seen to many friends come and go, I shall honor and continue to defend them all agianst all who talk about the war from a distance. Always smiling and always happy, that was bryan.

I'm Bryan's younger sister. I'm 17 and im a senior at mountain view. I never thought i would have to face so much at 17. It breaks my heart to know that my brother will never get the chances to do the things he wanted to do. I know he wanted to watch me walk in gradation.Get my prom picture. Watch me walk down the isle. At 17 i lost my brother, but i gained an angel.

Bryan Was My cousin I have so many memories of him I will always remember him he fought for his country and did what he liked he was always a person who knew what he wanted I Miss Him everyday and I know that he is up there watching over his family and keeping us safe and telling us that he is fine he always had a smile on his face and his Son Tyler Looks so much like him

You Will Never Be Forgotten Bryan