Brad Wentz
Sergeant, United States Army Reserve
November 10, 1983 – May 20, 2005
Age – 21
Gladwin, MI
Operation Iraqi Freedom
180th Transportation, United States Army Reserve, Muskegon, MI
Killed on a main supply route in Iraq when his convoy came under attack by enemy forces
Brad Arnold Wentz, 21, of Gladwin died May 20, 2005 in Iraq serving his country in Operation Iraqi Freedom. He was born Nov. 10, 1983 to Chris and Shelly (Hisey) Wentz of Midland. He graduated from Gladwin High School and lived in Gladwin County his whole life. On May 25, 2003 he married the former Tami Orvis.
He was a truck driver in the Army Reserve. He attended basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri in June 2001 and AIT in June 2002. He transferred from the 180th TC Company to the 623rd TC Fort Totten, New York in February 2003 enroute to the mobilization station at Fort Dix, New Jersey. He was released from active duty and transferred back to the 180th TC in August 2003. He deployed with the 180th TC Company Nov. 2, 2004 to the mobilization station at Fort McCoy, Wisconsin. He left Fort McCoy Jan. 1, 2005 enroute to Camp Virginia in Kuwait for four weeks. The 180th convoyed to Camp Anaconda Jan. 18, 2005.
He was remembered by fellow soldiers as follows:
Brad Monday is Memorial Day Bud. Every Time that day comes every year I remember you. I know you can read this from where you are bud. I remember you and me and that talk we had before you left. Remember what we talked about? I know you do. We were both were going to get my family and yours together and go camping up there and we were going to have our women and kids with us. You had your child round the same time I had mine. You sacrificed your life for the safety of our country and our wives and kids. Since I last talked to you I have been overseas two times once to Iraq and now Afghanistan. Its really hard to leave our families bud and even harder for them at home I think. You’re a great man I will never forget you Sgt.Wentz Brad A. I love ya Brother I’ll see ya again when we meet again.”
Sgt. Dotson David M. of Vassar, MI
“Brad was my very first friend I made when I came to the unit 180th detachment, I was thankful he came to me with such friendliness and welcoming. Its hard to start a new unit (just after basic) and meet new friends, but he was there. Our Euchre games and lunch breaks will never be forgotten. I remember, like it was just an hour ago, when he and I and a few others were standing around in the motor pool of the 180th main unit, just before we left for overseas…we all stood in that circle and looked around and tried to imagine who MAY not return home with us. NEVER once did I imagine it would be my best bud! We called each other “wifey” because we would make coffee for each other and we took it the same way 🙂 That’s how it started with the nick-name anyhow, and then it just stuck. When we left out of Kuwait in separate missions, we all were excited to see each other when the next run came in. We had made out first mission into “theater”! I remember seeing Brad when my run came in and he ran to me open arms, smile on his face and hugged me. That is a memory I’ll never let go. We had made it into what later became a devastation for us all. I was not on the mission that took Brad away from us but I was one who had gotten wind, early on-ish that someone had been killed last night, and that it was heard to be one of my best friends. I chose to not believe it could be him, there was no way. Then the briefing, the agony my heart felt and the tears I cried are countless. I was there the day his body was flown back to the US… I said my last good-bye’s and saluted my last salute. He forever then was in my heart and mind. My deepest sympathy goes out to Brad’s family and friends that I may have never met. I as well as many others share your sorrow, but are also thankful to have had the pleasure of gracing Brad’s presence. In my heart and mind forever– ”
Melissa Talbot “Plunkey” of Dallas, GA
Brad, there is not a day that goes by where you are not remembered. The shock of your passing still has yet to pass and I will never forget what a truly amazing friend you were. You could always bring a smile to our faces and you still do. WE WILL NOT FORGET YOU!!!
After we got back I gotta say man I wanted revenge so I went active duty and ended up doing another tour to Afghanistan. Still active and livin every moment to the fullest because I know that’s what you wanted all of us to do so even though at times I get upset at the idea of you being gone I remember everyday to celebrate the life you lived and the legacy you left with all those you met.”
SGT Quincy Kasper of Fort Leonard Wood MO