Cpl. Brandon M. Hardy, of Cochranville, Pa., graduated from Octorara High School in 1999 and immediatly set out to serve his country, first in the Air Force, then in the Marines. As a young boy, his eyes were glued to the television set during Desert Storm, captivated by the images of the United States military. It was then that Brandon decided to dedicate his life to his country. Fifteen years later, he has done just that. Brandon never wavered one bit in pursuing that childhood goal. He enlisted in the Air Force during his senior year and left home a month after graduation to begin his service. After five years in the Air Force, including three deployments to the Middle East, and time stationed in Germany and Spokane, Wash., he decided to enlist in the Marines instead, so that he could be doing what he wanted to be doing in Iraq. Brandon was a family oriented "country boy" who liked hunting and fishing. He listened to country music and liked wearing cowboy hats and boots. He enjoyed sports, especially Penn State football and baseball, which he played at Octorara. He was a Christian, worshipping at Community Bible Fellowship in Oxford. It was at church that he met his fiancee, Samantha, although he had no idea at the time she was the woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. Hardy surprised her by coming home for Christmas in 2005, and in February, just before he was to leave for Iraq, the two became engaged. He died while conducting combat operations against enemy forces in Al Anbar province, Iraq at age 25.
Marine
3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion
1st Marine Division
I Marine Expeditionary Force
Camp Pendleton, Calif
Marine
3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion
1st Marine Division
I Marine Expeditionary Force
Camp Pendleton, Calif
Cpl. Brandon M. Hardy, of Cochranville, Pa., graduated from Octorara High School in 1999 and immediatly set out to serve his country, first in the Air Force, then in the Marines. As a young boy, his eyes were glued to the television set during Desert Storm, captivated by the images of the United States military. It was then that Brandon decided to dedicate his life to his country. Fifteen years later, he has done just that. Brandon never wavered one bit in pursuing that childhood goal. He enlisted in the Air Force during his senior year and left home a month after graduation to begin his service. After five years in the Air Force, including three deployments to the Middle East, and time stationed in Germany and Spokane, Wash., he decided to enlist in the Marines instead, so that he could be doing what he wanted to be doing in Iraq. Brandon was a family oriented "country boy" who liked hunting and fishing. He listened to country music and liked wearing cowboy hats and boots. He enjoyed sports, especially Penn State football and baseball, which he played at Octorara. He was a Christian, worshipping at Community Bible Fellowship in Oxford. It was at church that he met his fiancee, Samantha, although he had no idea at the time she was the woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. Hardy surprised her by coming home for Christmas in 2005, and in February, just before he was to leave for Iraq, the two became engaged. He died while conducting combat operations against enemy forces in Al Anbar province, Iraq at age 25.
Marine
3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion
1st Marine Division
I Marine Expeditionary Force
Camp Pendleton, Calif
Marine
3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion
1st Marine Division
I Marine Expeditionary Force
Camp Pendleton, Calif
Inscription
SSGT
US Air Force
CPL
US Marine Corps
Purple Heart
Operation
Iraqi Freedom
