Service for Oregon Soldier Brad Lindsey Attended by Many

Lindsey died after an attack by Taliban militants Sept. 9th, near the town of Shajoie in Afghanistan's Zabul province, located in the Southeast part of the country.

Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski speaks to the gathering All photos courtesy: Oregon National Guard

(TROUTDALE) - A memorial service was held today for Oregon Guardsman, Staff Sgt. Nathaniel Bradley Lindsey, 38, of Troutdale, Oregon, at New Hope Community Church in Clackamas.

Nathanael "Brad" Lindsey

Lindsey was then rendered full military honors at Willamette National Cemetery later that morning. Oregon's Governor, Theodore R. Kulongoski, and Oregon National Guard Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. Raymond F. Rees were among the many military and civilian mourners who attended the mid-morning ceremony. Those who spoke to the gathered crowd of about 200 people praised Lindsey for his professional demeanor and exemplary soldiering skills. "He was widely known and admired," Rees said. "The epitome of the citizen soldier." Rees said he had been contacted by Brig. Gen. Douglas A. Pritt, commander of the Oregon Army National Guard's 41st Brigade Combat Team, and Commanding General of Joint Combined Task Force Phoenix V, the unit to which Lindsey was assigned in Afghanistan. He said Pritt explained there had been a firefight with insurgents, and that there were casualties, but when he got to the list of names and read Lindsey's information, Rees said Pritt's voice broke.

Oregon Governor Theodore R. Kulongoski presents the Oregon State Flag to Joyce Lindsey, wife of Oregon National Guard Soldier

"I knew then that it was personal, and emotional," Rees said. Rees personally thanked Lindsey's son, Marcus, for his service, who sat in the front row with his younger siblings, Brandon, Michelle, and Kailina, and his mother, Joyce. Marcus wore his Army dress uniform to honor his father, although he is no longer serving in the Active Duty Army. Rees added that in honor of Staff Sgt. Lindsey, the new Forward Operating Base in Afghanistan would be named Camp Lindsey. Also, the current segment of anti-insurgency patrols would be named Operation Lindsey. Lindsey died after an attack by Taliban militants Sept. 9th, near the town of Shajoie in Afghanistan's Zabul province, located in the Southeast part of the country. Lindsey was on patrol with U.S. troops and members of the Afghan National Army when Taliban militants, who had set up a fake checkpoint, attacked the convoy. Lindsey was in the turret of an up-armored Humvee when he was killed either by a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) or improvised explosive device (IED). He was wearing his protective armor and equipment at the time of the attack, but sustained life threatening wounds.

Oregon Governor Theodore R. Kulongoski places a commander's coin on the Fallen Soldier display dedicated to Oregon National Guard Soldier, Staff Sgt. Nathaniel Brad Lindsey, of Troutdale

Lindsey was assigned to the 205th Regional Corps Advisory Group, a unit responsible for working closely with elements of the Afghan National Army and training them to be a professional military corps. According to his fellow Soldiers, Lindsey was very eager to do all he could to help the people of Afghanistan and serve his country. He had volunteered for the assignment, choosing the Embedded Training Teams over administrative duty. The 205th RCAG deployed as part of the 41st Brigade Combat Team to Afghanistan early this summer. Col. David Stuckey, deputy director of operations for the Oregon National Guard, worked closely with Lindsey when he was commander of the Oregon Army National Guard's 1st Battalion, 162nd Infantry. He chose Lindsey as his driver — a position with a lot of responsibility.

Adjutant General Raymond F. Rees presents the Flag

The two formed a close bond, and each got to know the others' family members. Stuckey thanked Lindsey's wife, Joyce, who volunteers as a family support group coordinator for the Oregon National Guard. "He was truly a wonderful human being, Soldier, husband and father," Stuckey said of Lindsey. "Brad's love of family was evident in everything he did. As was his friendship and his Soldiering spirit. Soldiering was what he loved to do," Stuckey said. "There's another trait I saw in Brad," Stuckey continued. "Duty." Stuckey said Lindsey was always the first to volunteer for assignments or deployments. His recent deployment was to Louisiana in support of the Hurricane Katrina victims. Prior to joining the Oregon Army National Guard, Lindsey served in the Navy aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise. Lindsey, who was born in Portland, Oregon, is survived by his wife Joyce, three step-children, his daughter, parents Dan and Donna Lindsey, and grandparents. There are more than 900 of Oregon's citizen-soldiers currently serving in Afghanistan with the 41st BCT, making it the largest single deployment of Oregon Soldiers outside the U.S. since World War II. The brigade leads Joint Combined Task Force Phoenix V, commanded by 41st BCT commander, Brig. Gen. Douglas A. Pritt. According to Pritt, the Task Force was shocked and deeply saddened by Lindsey's death, but have vowed to continue to focus on their mission. Lindsey is the fifteenth Oregon National Guard Soldier to die while serving overseas.