Tulsa World: Army soldier from Norman killed in Iraq

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Army soldier from Norman killed in Iraq

By Staff and Wire Reports
Published: 10/13/2005 4:39 AM
Last Modified: 4/28/2008 3:20 PM

Brandon Keith Sneed died when an improvised explosive device blew up near his vehicle in Ramadi.

An Army infantry soldier from Norman was killed Monday by an improvised explosive device in Ramadi, Iraq, the Department of Defense reported Wednesday.

Sgt. 1st Class Brandon Keith Sneed, 33, died during combat operations against the insurgency.

Sneed last lived in Norman before he was stationed in Fort Benning, Ga., said his wife, Lori Sneed.

He was raised in Houston and joined the Army after high school. His wife said she met him when they both were in the Army and stationed in Arizona.

The couple married and made their home in Oklahoma after finishing their tours in 1994.

"I loved him so much. He followed me over the Red River," said Lori Sneed, who was born and raised in Oklahoma.

Brandon Sneed had played football at Alief Hastings High School in Houston.

His wife said one of the last messages she got from him was an e-mail he sent gloating about the Texas Longhorns' victory over the Oklahoma Sooners. The annual rivalry had become a tradition in the Sneed home, but he had been unable to celebrate the game at home this year, she said.

"He stayed abroad a lot, so that was something we just had to get used to," Lori Sneed said.

When he came home, Sneed loved to spend time with his wife and two sons. He loved to play and watch football with them, Lori Sneed

said.

His other love was being a soldier, she said.

In Iraq, he commanded an M2A2 Bradley Fighting Vehicle, which he was aboard when the improvised bomb exploded Monday, killing him and another man, Sgt. Leon M. Johnson, 28, of Jacksonville, Fla.

They both were members of Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment based out of Fort Benning, Ga. The soldiers were attached to the 2nd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, also from Fort Benning.

The unit was sent to Ramadi in July, according to reports.

Army spokeswoman Jill Mueller said Wednesday evening that Sneed was experienced. "He was a foot soldier. He was a fighter," she said.

Their deaths brought to 20 the number of Fort Benning personnel killed in Afghanistan or Iraq since February.

By Staff and Wire Reports

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