PFC Brett Walton was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 17th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division out of Ft. Carson, Colorado. He was recently promoted to Private First Class.
(SALEM) - A 37-year old soldier killed in Iraq this week is a Portland native, father and husband. Private First Class Brett Walton died April 9th at approximately 6:00 PM while conducting combat operations in Baghdad, Iraq.
PFC Walton's HUMMWV or "Humvee" was struck by and improvised explosive device. Brett Walton was the driver of the vehicle and was killed by the explosion.
PFC Walton was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 17th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division out of Ft. Carson, Colorado. He was recently promoted to Private First Class.
Born in Portland, Ore. on January 30, 1970, Walton was a graduate of Grant High School in Portland. He entered the U.S. Army on Sept. 13, 2006 and was deployed to Iraq on March 10, 2007.
Brett Walton told his family when he signed up that, "I want to do something to be part of the solution, to make a difference to the people of Iraq." Prior to his enlistment into the U.S. Army, Walton was a resident of Portland, Ore.
He is survived by his wife Lindsay, daughter Sydney, age 5 of Sherwood, Ore., father Phillip Walton of Portland, mother Cassandra Phillips of Tigard, sisters Cheryl and Kathleen and brother John.
A memorial service is being planned at the Solid Rock Church located at 10500 SW Nimbus, Building T in Tigard, Ore. with internment at Willamette National Cemetery.
Cards and letters should be sent to the Walton Family in care of the Public Affairs Office, Oregon National Guard at P.O. Box 14350, Salem, Ore. 97309-5047.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be sent in Memory of Private First Class Brett A. Walton to Shepherd's Door, at 13207 NE Halsey, Portland, Ore. 97230. This is a branch of the Portland Rescue Mission which works with homeless families consisting of a unmarried mother with two or three small children, many of whom have experienced violence and most lack work skills, access to child care or access to jobs necessary to support their families.
The focus of Shepherd's Door is to break the generational cycle of homelessness and to provide a way to generational healing. All of the women in the program and many of the children have experienced childhood abuse or trauma. By providing a long-term program individualized to each woman and child's needs, families are able to grow and break the cycle of generational trauma.
A Savings Account has been established in Sydney Walton's name as a means to provide for higher education. Donations can be sent to Sydney Walton Savings at the Rivermark Credit Union, 4875 SW Griffith Drive, Beaverton, Ore. 97005.
It is unknown at this time when the soldier will return to Oregon.
PFC Brett Andre Walton Latest Oregon Iraqi Freedom CasualtySalem-News.com