Army Staff Sgt. Bryan A. Lewis

Died March 13, 2006 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

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32, of Bunkie, La.; assigned to the 519th Military Police Battalion, 49th Military Police Brigade, Fort Polk, La.; killed March 13 when an improvised device detonated near his Humvee during convoy operations north of Rustamiyah, Iraq.

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Fort Polk soldier killed in Iraq

FORT POLK, La. — A soldier from Fort Polk was among at least 15 people killed by bomb blasts and shootings in Iraq on Monday.

The Department of Defense released his name Thursday: Staff Sgt. Brian Anthony Lewis, 32, of Bunkie, La.

Lewis, a military policeman, was in a convoy when a roadside bomb struck his vehicle, according to a news release from Fort Polk.

Lewis was assigned to the 258th Military Police Co., 519th Military Police Battalion, Warrior Brigade. He joined the Army in June 1993 and arrived at Fort Polk in July of 2001.

A memorial service for Lewis will be held Friday at the base’s Main Post Chapel.

Fort Polk spokeswoman Samantha Evans wrote that Lewis’ mother, Delores Lewis, asked that reporters not contact her.

The military said earlier that bomb blasts and shootings in Baghdad and north of the capital, many of them targeting Iraqi police patrols, killed at least 15 more people Monday and wounded more than 40.

—Associated Press

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Standing-room only crowd turn out to honor soldier

FORT POLK, La. — A standing-room only crowd filled the chapel at Fort Polk Friday to salute Staff Sgt. Bryan A. Lewis, who was killed in Iraq earlier this week.

Each soldier and civilian paraded up to salute a display showing a beret, boots, rifle, helmet, and a Bronze Star and Purple Heart, both awarded posthumously.

A rifle salute and taps were also rendered. Before taps was played, a roll call was taken. Some fellow sergeants barked out their presence before Lewis’ name was called. When he didn’t answer after the third call, the bugler began to play.

Lewis wife, Fabersha, his parents, Deloris and Donald, and his sisters, Shellie, Shalyn and Shawn, were at the service but said they didn’t want to talk to reporters.

Lewis was assigned to the 258th Military Police Company, 519th Military Police Battalion, and was killed when a roadside bomb hit his vehicle. Staff Sgt. Exstrella Smith, who served stateside with Lewis but did not go to Iraq, said Lewis “will always be in my heart and in my memories.”

“You had no choice but to look up to him,” she said.

Staff Sgt. George Cyrus was serving with Lewis in Iraq. Both Smith and Cyrus broke up as they talked about their friend.

“I loved him like a brother,” Cyrus said.

— Associated Press / Information from: Alexandria Daily Town Talk