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Editor's note: Washington Producer John Rutherford posts a weekly blog on burials of service members at Arlington National Cemetery. Since there were no public burials this past week, we are posting the burial of a highly decorated Green Beret on May 31, right after Memorial Day.
Headstone by headstone, row by row, Section 60 at Arlington National Cemetery is slowly filling with the casualties from Iraq.
Umbrell, Colby. Pursel, Michael. Murphy, Christopher. On May 31 it was Conner, Bradly. Number 341.
Sgt. Maj. Bradly Conner, 41, a highly decorated Green Beret on this fourth tour in Iraq, was killed May 9 by a roadside bomb. As an Army band played "America the Beautiful" in the distance, he was buried at Arlington Cemetery.
Conner's widow, Cynthia, and their three children, Aaron, 14, Katie, 12, and Rachel, 6, were among the many tearful mourners.
Photo courtesy USASOC News Service
Bradly Dean Conner grew up in Kellogg, Idaho. He went to college until his money ran out, joined the Army for its college aid, and ended up staying for the next 20 years.
"He loved what he did," Cynthia Conner told the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.
He also loved Cynthia. They were married nearly 18 years, bucking the 85 percent divorce rate among Green Berets. He called her just a few days before he died.
"He was notorious for not calling me as often as he should, but it was always good when he did," Cynthia told the Post-Intelligencer.
Conner served in Desert Storm in 1990, was in on the invasion of Iraq 13 years later, and returned for his fourth tour in March. Along the way, he earned nearly 50 awards and decorations, including three Bronze Stars and a Purple Heart.
"He considered himself a warrior," Cynthia told the Seattle newspaper. "And so did the rest of us."
On May 9, while on patrol in Al-Hillah, 60 miles south of Baghdad, an improvised explosive device detonated near Conner's humvee, fatally wounding him.
"We thought he was invincible," his widow said.
John Rutherford is a Vietnam veteran who earned a Purple Heart and Bronze Star for his service, and is also a 28-year veteran of NBC News.
As we recognize those servicemen and -women buried at Arlington National Cemetery, we want to offer you the chance to share the stories of other fallen military personnel either in personal remembrance and reflection or through public funeral or memorial announcements. All verifiable submissions for servicemen and -women who died in combat are welcome, as are photos of the deceased. Click here to submit yours.
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Thank you to Sgt. Major Conner and his family. They paid the ultimate price for our country and our freedom. I am so sorry for your loss. I hope that Sgr. Major Conner's children can find some comfort in the knowledge that their father is a hero. It's because of our military, and our heros, that we can work, play and sleep at night without fear. It is because of our military, and our heros, that we Americans can enjoy our freedoms, including our religious freedom and our freedom of speech. The Conner family will be in my prayers. We will never forget the sacrifice made by Sgt. Major Conner and his family.
Dawn Ayers, Redondo Beach, CA (Sent Jul 8, 2007 7:26:20 PM)
My thoughts and prayers go out to the Conner family. Sgt Major Bradly Conner a true hero and we will never forget your sacrifices for our country. I hope that all this will end soon and the nation and the world can be at peace. We will always honor you for your service to our nation.
Lisa McNeil,Alpharetta,Georgia (Sent Jul 6, 2007 7:42:52 PM)
No words can be expressed to the sadness which war brings. We have honored our fallen soldiers as they have given which we have not. Their deeds, honor, and courage bring reason to why America is the land of the free! As war of today is not fought like wars of yesterday the meaning still remains. As these soldiers never questioned orders or lacked the courage to face our enemies, forget not their loved ones as they too embrace the sadness of their loss.
Straight Up, AZ (Sent Jul 6, 2007 2:12:53 PM)
It is so sad to see heros like this Sgt Major lay down his life. We said after Vietnam "never again" and here we are repeating history. Without regard to policy and direction, the troops have my 100+% support and I pray for them all.
Sgt. Maj. Bradly Conner - you are a blessing to the people of the United States. Thank you for your service.
Douglas Riley, Glen Ellyn, IL (Sent Jul 6, 2007 1:47:27 PM)
My heart goes out to the spouses, children, parents and loved ones of every fallen soilder in the military. Thank you for our freedom, we will NEVER forget your sarifices!
Amanda R, Huron, SD (Sent Jul 6, 2007 12:51:26 PM)
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