Brud J. Cronkrite, 22

Army, Sergeant

Based: Friedberg, Germany

1st Battalion, 37th Armor Regiment, 1st Brigade, 1st Armored Division

Supporting: Operation Iraqi Freedom

Died: May 14, 2004

Baghdad (military hospital), Iraq

Single

Gender: Male

Hometown: Spring Valley

High School: Mountain Empire High (Pine Valley)

Burial: Ft. Rosecrans National Cemetery, San Diego

Conkrite had served in Iraq for one year, according to an AP obituary. His family had expected his tour to end two weeks before he was killed. Instead, his combat duty had been extended by three months.

Michelangelo A. Mora, 05/14/2004

Brian K. Cutter, 05/13/2004

23 memories of Brud J. Cronkrite

“

SGT Brud J. Cronkrite, It has been eight years since that fateful day in Karbala, Iraq, and as your Company Commander (C/1-37AR) there still has yet to be a day since 13 MAY 2004 that I have not seen your face. I remember that day with such excruciatingly exact detail that I simply cannot un-think or un-see what happened that day and why.

To your parents, I sincerely hope that our visit at Arlington Cemetery and the following discussion of what exactly happened and where the blame/failure of leadership/buck stops with me, helped in some way to provide a sense of closure and some minor form of comfort.

Regardless, the unfortunate end is the same. Brud is no longer here with us. I don't think I will ever be able to completely recover from what I failed to do to prevent this from happening. Some days I see Brud while I'm driving down the road, or I see him when I go to the hospital, or at other completely unpredictable and random times. You are always with me. You were a amazing soldier who was respected by your subordinates, peers, and "superiors" alike.

I often wish that decisions could be unmade, that better protective measures were taken, and that I had been a better commander.

Mr. and Mrs. Cronkrite, my heart truly goes out to you, not just now, but always, and I can only hope for your eventual forgiveness in my failure to bring your son home to you.

W. Thomas Byrns
Major, U.S. Army (Retired)

” — Tom Byrns, May 16, 2012 at 8:49 a.m.

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Sources: Times research, Defense Department, iCasualties.org

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Brud J. Cronkrite, 22

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23 memories of Brud J. Cronkrite