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Army Sgt. Brandon E. Maggart

Brandon E. Maggart (Born July 22, 1986, Kirksville, Mo - Died Aug 22, 2010, Basrah, Iraq) was an Army Sergeant with the 5th Battalion, 5th Air Defense Artilery Regiment.

Contents 1. Military Service Timeline						Born	       	July 22, 1986, Kirksville, MO 2. Personal								Died	       	Aug 22, 2010, Basrah, Iraq 3. Awards								Allegiance   	USA Service/Branch US Army Rank		Sergeant Unit		5th Battalion, 5th Air Defense Artilery Regiment Battles Wars	Operation Iraqi Freedom

Military Service Timeline

Army Sgt Brandon E. Maggart, 24, of Kirksville, Mo was assigned to the 5th Battalion, 5th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. He died Aug. 22, 2010 at Basrah, Iraq, of wounds sustained when insurgents attacked his unit using indirect fire [1]. He was, officially, the last American Service member to die in Iraq combat. Maggart's unwelcome spot in history came just a week before President Obama announced, on August 31, 2010, the end of the American combat mission in Iraq, known as Operation Iraqi Freedom, launched March 20, 2003. [2]

Maggart graduated from Kirksville R-III High School in 2005 and enlisted on June 8, 2006, and reported to Fort Bliss, Texas, for basic training and advanced training in his military occupational specialty, 14S - Avenger crewmember. He then reported to Fort Lewis, Wash., (now Joint Base Lewis-McChord) on November 9, 2006, and was assigned to the 5th Battalion, 5th Air Defense Artillery Regiment. [4]

His first deployment to Iraq was from March 2007 until May 2008. He was deployed a second time in Iraq in January 2010. He died about four days after Fort Lewis' main combat unit, the 4th Stryker Brigade, pulled out of Iraq. [2]

Personal

Sgt. Maggart is survived by his wife of 4 years, Tracey, and by his son Blake, who was three at the time of Brandon's death. He is also survived by his parent, Teddy and Beth Maggart, brother Joshua and sister Ashley. [1]

Awards His awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal, ArmyAchievement Medal (2), Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal (2 awards), Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and NCO Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon,and the Overseas Service Ribbon. [4] Sgt. Maggart was laid to rest at the Missouri Veterans Cemetery in Jacksonville, Missouri. [3]

References: 1. http://militarytimes.com/valor/army-sgt-brandon-e-maggart/4755720/ 2. Brandon Maggart, Fort Lewis Sergeant, Last U.S. Soldier to Officially Die in the Iraq War By Rick Anderson, Wed., Sep. 8 2010 at 9:09 am    http://blogs.seattleweekly.com/dailyweekly/2010/09/brandon_maggart_fort_lewis_ser.php 3. Sgt. Maggart makes final trip home by Ashley Smith, Posted: 08.30.2010 at 7:53 PM, http://www.heartlandconnection.com/news/story.aspx?id=504345 4. Northwest Military Blogs: Fort Lewis Blog, August 24, 2010 at 8:07am, http://www.northwestmilitary.com/news/fort-lewis-blog/2010/08/Sgt-Brandon-Maggart-killed-in-Iraq/