Soldier Honored: Brian R. Bates, Jr.

Army Private First-Class Brian R. Bates, 20, of Gretna, La., was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash., and served during Operation Enduring Freedom. On October 27, 2009, PFC Bates was killed when insurgents attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device in Loy Kariz, Afghanistan.

PFC Bates enlisted in the Army in 2008 to help support his family and fight for his country. He found great satisfaction in the Army and became an excellent and toughened soldier. He was stationed in Seattle in March 2009 and just a few months later, he received his orders for deployment to Afghanistan. PFC Bates was decorated with a Bronze Star, a Purple Heart, an Army Good Conduct medal, a National Defense Service medal, an Afghanistan Campaign medal with Bronze Service Star, a Global War on Terrorism Service medal, an Army Service ribbon, an Overseas Service ribbon, a North Atlantic Treaty Organization medal, a Combat Infantryman badge, a Basic Marksmanship Qualification badge Expert with Rifle Bar and the Overseas Service bar for his service and sacrifice.

“Brian loved the army and wanted to make it his career,” his wife said. “He was a loving, generous, kind-hearted, funny, caring individual

Both of PFC Bates’ children are Folds of Honor Scholarship recipients.