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MP family gathers to remember soldier
Monday, October 16, 2006 | No comments posted.
ROSEBURG (AP) - Flags were at half-staff on the South Coast and throughout the state Friday, honoring Dean Robert Bright, a Sutherlin soldier who was killed in Iraq.
When the notes of “Taps” and the riflemen's salute faded, and the prayers and praises were over Saturday, a lone figure stood over Dean Bright's open grave and saluted the soldier who saved his son's life in Iraq.
It followed a bomb attack last summer in Iraq. Bright, an Army private first class from Sutherlin, got the Bronze Star then for heroism. But on Oct. 4, another bomb killed Bright, a former Sutherlin city councilman. He was 32.
He was buried with military honors and a second Bronze Star at Roseburg National Cemetery.
He grew up in Sutherlin, went to high school there and was senior class president in 1992. He was a volunteer firefighter and a reserve police officer in nearby Powers.
When word reached town of his death, the community lined Central Avenue with American flags stretching more than a mile.
On Saturday, hundreds of friends, relatives and community members packed into the gymnasium at Sutherlin High.
“I want you to remember,” began pastor Bill Sanders, whose son grew up with Bright, “that this is a memorial for Dean Bright.” The pastor paused significantly.
“So I want you to turn around and talk to your neighbor real loud and real fast for a moment. Go ahead! That's Dean!”
He was recalled as a big-hearted guy, a can-do guy, a joiner and a doer. He coached kids softball, he rode four-wheelers, he practically burned up the Internet with e-mails from Iraq.
He was the third Roseburg-area soldier to die there.
Gov. Ted Kulongoski, who tries to attend funerals of all slain Oregon soldiers, quoted Abraham Lincoln and talked about grief.
“On this day, we gather to honor not all who served and died but one very special soldier who served and one very special soldier who died,” he said. “No matter where you stand on the war in Iraq, there can be no doubt that Roseburg and its surroundings have paid a terrible price for this war.”
His father, Bob Bright of Myrtle Point, wore an American flag necktie. The soldier's daughter, 6-year-old Madison, wore an American flag pin on her lacy white dress.
Red, white and blue balloons at the cemetery were cut free to float into a gray autumn sky.
Also at graveside were Bright's mother, Norma Lane of Sutherlin, and his former wife, Becky Bright, whom he had planned to remarry Jan. 6, and their son, Jarrod, 9.
Bright joined the U.S. Army in September 2005. He was deployed to Iraq with the 7th Squadron, 10th Cavalary, 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division in March. He received the Bronze Star With Valor, and, after his death, his family learned he had earned another Bronze Star and a Purple Heart. Other awards the soldier received included the Army Commendation Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Ribbon, Iraqi Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Combat Action Badge and the Expert Weapons Badge.
It was Mel Gibbons, who stood and quietly saluted the grave, and his wife, Bonnie, to whom Bright may have given the greatest gift: ten more weeks of their son's short life.
Bright went through basic training with Devon Gibbons, and the two became friends as they went to Iraq together.
They were on patrol in separate vehicles, when Gibbons' Bradley fighting vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb.
“Devon's Bradley was blown up,” his mom said as the balloons sailed overhead. “It was flipped upside down. It was burning. And people were shooting. Dean was the first guy to get there. He reached into the fire and pulled Devon out.”
Badly burned, Devon Gibbons died 10 weeks later in a hospital, his parents at his side. He was 19.
His parents came from Port Orchard, Wash., to the funeral of a soldier they hardly knew to thank him.
“A hero,” said Mel Gibbons, “is someone who understands love better than the rest of us. Dean Bright was a hero to me.”
(The World staff added to this story.)
When the notes of “Taps” and the riflemen's salute faded, and the prayers and praises were over Saturday, a lone figure stood over Dean Bright's open grave and saluted the soldier who saved his son's life in Iraq.
It followed a bomb attack last summer in Iraq. Bright, an Army private first class from Sutherlin, got the Bronze Star then for heroism. But on Oct. 4, another bomb killed Bright, a former Sutherlin city councilman. He was 32.
He was buried with military honors and a second Bronze Star at Roseburg National Cemetery.
He grew up in Sutherlin, went to high school there and was senior class president in 1992. He was a volunteer firefighter and a reserve police officer in nearby Powers.
When word reached town of his death, the community lined Central Avenue with American flags stretching more than a mile.
On Saturday, hundreds of friends, relatives and community members packed into the gymnasium at Sutherlin High.
“I want you to remember,” began pastor Bill Sanders, whose son grew up with Bright, “that this is a memorial for Dean Bright.” The pastor paused significantly.
“So I want you to turn around and talk to your neighbor real loud and real fast for a moment. Go ahead! That's Dean!”
He was recalled as a big-hearted guy, a can-do guy, a joiner and a doer. He coached kids softball, he rode four-wheelers, he practically burned up the Internet with e-mails from Iraq.
He was the third Roseburg-area soldier to die there.
Gov. Ted Kulongoski, who tries to attend funerals of all slain Oregon soldiers, quoted Abraham Lincoln and talked about grief.
“On this day, we gather to honor not all who served and died but one very special soldier who served and one very special soldier who died,” he said. “No matter where you stand on the war in Iraq, there can be no doubt that Roseburg and its surroundings have paid a terrible price for this war.”
His father, Bob Bright of Myrtle Point, wore an American flag necktie. The soldier's daughter, 6-year-old Madison, wore an American flag pin on her lacy white dress.
Red, white and blue balloons at the cemetery were cut free to float into a gray autumn sky.
Also at graveside were Bright's mother, Norma Lane of Sutherlin, and his former wife, Becky Bright, whom he had planned to remarry Jan. 6, and their son, Jarrod, 9.
Bright joined the U.S. Army in September 2005. He was deployed to Iraq with the 7th Squadron, 10th Cavalary, 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division in March. He received the Bronze Star With Valor, and, after his death, his family learned he had earned another Bronze Star and a Purple Heart. Other awards the soldier received included the Army Commendation Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Ribbon, Iraqi Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Combat Action Badge and the Expert Weapons Badge.
It was Mel Gibbons, who stood and quietly saluted the grave, and his wife, Bonnie, to whom Bright may have given the greatest gift: ten more weeks of their son's short life.
Bright went through basic training with Devon Gibbons, and the two became friends as they went to Iraq together.
They were on patrol in separate vehicles, when Gibbons' Bradley fighting vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb.
“Devon's Bradley was blown up,” his mom said as the balloons sailed overhead. “It was flipped upside down. It was burning. And people were shooting. Dean was the first guy to get there. He reached into the fire and pulled Devon out.”
Badly burned, Devon Gibbons died 10 weeks later in a hospital, his parents at his side. He was 19.
His parents came from Port Orchard, Wash., to the funeral of a soldier they hardly knew to thank him.
“A hero,” said Mel Gibbons, “is someone who understands love better than the rest of us. Dean Bright was a hero to me.”
(The World staff added to this story.)
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