Army Pfc. Bryan R. Thomas

Died September 4, 2008 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

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22, of Battle Creek, Mich.; assigned to the 1st Battalion, 66th Armor Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas; died Sept. 4 in Baghdad of wounds sustained when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device. Also killed was Sgt. Kenneth W. Mayne.

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Battle Creek soldier killed in Iraq

By Joe Rossiter

Detroit Free Press

A Michigan serviceman was one of two soldiers killed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, the Department of Defense announced Sept. 8.

Army Pfc. Bryan R. Thomas, 22, of Battle Creek and Sgt. Kenneth W. Mayne, 29, of Fort Benning, Ga., died Thursday in Baghdad of wounds suffered when their vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device in a marketplace within the city. They were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 66th Armor Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, based in Fort Hood, Texas.

Thomas joined the Army in September 2007 and was stationed in Iraq for the past three months. He came home last month for a two-week leave.

An animal-lover who did volunteer work with the Michigan Humane Society, Thomas was also a skilled photographer.

“He was a person who was steadfast and committed,” said Laura Stewart, a longtime family friend. “He was proud to serve in the Army, and once he was finished, planned to make a career in education or sports medicine.”

A former student at Kellogg Community College, Thomas graduated in 2004 from Lakeview High School in Battle Creek, where he played football and was a member of the wrestling team.

“He was just an outstanding person who was a good student, well-liked and all-around nice guy,” said Chris Doyle, who was Lakeview High assistant principal at the time Thomas attended but is now principal.

“He was the type of player you want to have on your team, a hard worker and someone who could always fire up the other kids,” Doyle said. “We are very proud of his accomplishments and proud that he represented our country.”

Survivors include his mother, Pam Sikora; grandfather, Richard Sikora, and step-grandmother, Barbara Sikora.

Funeral arrangements were incomplete today. Burial with full military honors will take place at Fort Custer National Cemetery in Augusta, Mich.

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Army Pfc. Bryan R. Thomas remembered

The Associated Press

Friends and family friends described Bryan R. Thomas as an “old soul” — a thoughtful and introspective young man who took an interest in animals, sports, photography and Mountain Dew.

“It just doesn’t seem real,” said Laura Stewart, a family friend. “I think any minute now he’ll come in, open up the refrigerator and take a seat on the couch.”

Thomas, 22, of Battle Creek, Mich., was killed Sept. 4 when his vehicle hit a roadside bomb. He was assigned to Fort Hood.

A former student at Kellogg Community College, Thomas graduated in 2004 from Lakeview High School, where he played football and was a member of the wrestling team.

“He was just an outstanding person who was a good student, well-liked and all-around nice guy,” said Chris Doyle, the principal. “He was the type of player you want to have on your team, a hard worker and someone who could always fire up the other kids.”

Thomas was the grappler who jumped up a weight class to save a couple points for the team. “He was a dedicated kid who didn’t seek the limelight,” said Tony Evans, an ex-wrestling coach.

He is survived by his mother, Pam Sikora.