Bryan E. Bolander, 26

Army, Staff Sergeant

Based: Ft. Campbell, Ky.

1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault)

Supporting: Operation Iraqi Freedom

Died: April 29, 2008

Baghdad, Iraq

Engaged, 1 child

Gender: Male

Hometown: Hemet

High School: Mountain View High (Mountain View)

Burial: Kentucky Veterans Cemetery West, Hopkinsville, Ky.

Bolander was killed a month before he was due home in May, his father told the Nevada Appeal. His wedding was planned for June.

Miguel A. Guzman, 05/02/2008

Jonathan Antonio Vega Yelner, 04/29/2008

13 memories of Bryan E. Bolander

“

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

” — Marcia D. Wardwell, July 9, 2008 at 8:54 p.m.

“

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.

” — Marcia D. Wardwell, July 9, 2008 at 9:05 p.m.

“

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.

” — Adam , October 31, 2008 at 6:30 p.m.

“

My son was the gunner in the vehicle with Bryan and Clay that tragic day. Our lives are forever changed. Not one day goes by that I don't think of Bryan, mourn for the tragic loss of his life, mourn for his mother and father, mourn for his son and his family. I don't know why this had to happen Bryan. I wish had gotten the chance to know you but from what I know and the stories I have been told, you were an amazing man who honored our country and kept us safe. You will never be forgotten or thought about every single day. Preston and Clay miss you. My son mourns your loss. May you rest in peace and dance with the angels for all eternity. To your mother and father, your son, your family, my deepest sympathies. May God Bless each and everyone you left behind with peace and healing in their hearts and on the days when their feet cannot carry them because of their grief, let God carry you in his right hand. God Bless you Bo, you are missed, you are remembered. Much love, Noni Kaplan

” — Noni Kaplan, August 1, 2014 at 12:40 p.m.

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Sources: Times research, Defense Department, iCasualties.org

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Bryan E. Bolander, 26

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13 memories of Bryan E. Bolander