Brandon L. Stout
Specialist, United States Army
December 7, 1983 – January 22, 2007
Age – 23
Kent, MI
Operation Iraqi Freedom
46th Military Police Company, Michigan Army National Guard, Kingsford, MI
Died when an explosive ordnance device detonated near his vehicle in Baghdad, Iraq
One of the things Specialist Brandon L. Stout did during his mission in Iraq was to start collecting soccer balls from home to give to needy children in Iraq. Family said that he would always look for something good that he could do. Some of us live long lives adrift in the world, aimlessly searching for their calling, and their purpose. Brandon Stout was a young man who always knew he was a part of God’s plan, and devoted his life to serving his Lord. He was so devoted in every part of his life, to his wife, to his family, and especially to his country. There are many things about this world we can’t understand, yet this much we do: Brandon was a gift to us all.
Brandon joined the National Guard in 2003. He felt called to serve and his deep faith made him want to be a chaplain’s assistant, but, he was proud to serve as a military policeman. His family knew that Brandon believed his service was his job and he was proud to serve without complaint. Anderson said. He didn’t complain. He didn’t try to get out of it. He was very proud to want to go and serve.
Brandon attended Kent City High School, where he graduated from in 2002, and where he was so popular and active. He very much specialized in socializing in high school, making many friends and keeping everyone well entertained with his antics. An avid golfer, he played on the golf team, and also sang in the choir. A huge history and government buff, he also anchored the Quiz Bowl team that won a state title. Always a very quick-witted young man, he was also the class clown, enjoyed dressing as the school mascot (an Eagle) and was voted Prom King, too!
By then, Brandon had found a career, as well. After his first year in college, he joined the Michigan Army National Guard, hoping to serve the Lord as a Chaplain’s assistant. He was instead assigned to duty as an MP, yet saw this as God’s plan for him to better relate to his peers. After his basic training at Fort Leonard wood, he became even more resolute in his willingness to serve his country, and proud of his duty.
He returned to Michigan with the reserves, and he and Audrey lived in Lansing so she could continue college. He worked some delivery jobs, for a local florist and for FedEx, which he enjoyed for being on the road with his thoughts and his radio. He later worked at the Capital City Airport for the Transportation Safety Authority.
In early 2006, he learned he would be deployed with his unit to the Middle East. He and Audrey moved to Grand Rapids to be closer to their family, awaiting his call to duty. He left July 9, 2006 for more training, and arrived in Kuwait on the first of October, before finally deploying to Baghdad. There he helped train the Iraqi police force, giving him close contact with so many people who needed his help. Seeing so much misery around him, Brandon began collecting soccer balls from people back home, to give to the needy children of Iraq, just one more display of his enormous heart and powerful faith. Serving in Iraq was his mission, but doing the Lord’s work was his calling.
He also wrote of his faith and his fears on his webpage on Myspace.com. “The Lord has taught me many lessons on this deployment, all of which will stay with me until my very end,” Brandon wrote. “However, none more important than the lesson of praising Him in life’s STORMS – and this is a storm like nothing I have ever seen and one like most people never see …”
In the darkness of the Iraq war, Brandon used his faith – and humor – as a light for those around him. He was forever optimistic, and loved to make people laugh, and at 6-foot-4, people looked up to him both literally and figuratively. He was the type of man you were just drawn to, by the pull of his personality.
Brandon was a man of such powerful conviction, as well, and never afraid to speak his mind, never afraid of what people might think of him. He believed in himself, in what is right and what is just, and most of all, he believed in the Lord.
Brandon was a fun-loving person and devout Christian. He had a strong faith in the God and he put God and his wife first in his life. War was not of Brandon’s choosing, but he stood and chose to serve his country representing all of America that is good.
Thanks to technology and the internet Brandon and his family were able to communicate when they could.