Pfc. Brandon A. Owens, R.I.P.

Name: Army Pfc. Brandon A. Owens

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Age: 21

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From: Memphis, Tenn.

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Assigned to the 118th Military Police Company, 503rd Military Police Battalion, 16th Military Police Brigade, XVIII Airborne Corps, Fort Bragg, N.C.

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Incident: Army Pfc. Brandon A. Owens died Oct. 2 in Wardak province, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained when enemy forces attacked his unit using small-arms fire. Also killed was Sgt. Aaron M. Smith.

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Died: October 02, 2009

(The following was taken from fayobserver.com)A Fort Bragg solider in a Military Police unit died of wounds Friday when his patrol was attacked by enemy forces in the Wardak province of Afghanistan.

Pfc. Brandon Andre Owens, 21, of Memphis, was killed while his company and another unit were conducting joint operations with Afghan National Police and Afghan National Army, according to a news release by the Fort Bragg public affairs office.

Owens was with the 118th Military Police Company (Airborne), 503rd Military Police Battalion (Airborne), and 16th Military Police Brigade, 18th Airborne Corps.

The release said Owens died at 2 p.m. Friday. During a rest halt, his patrol came under attack by a hostile force, the release said.

The incident is under investigation.

"Pfc. Owens was an excellent soldier who was very motivated, disciplined, and competent," said Sgt. 1st Class David Cathers, who was Owens' platoon sergeant.

"Pfc. Owens had the ability to lift the spirits of everyone he came in contact with and always had a smile on his face," Cathers said.

Owens joined the Army on April 24, 2008, and went to basic and advanced individual training at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. He graduated as a military policeman. Owens completed basic airborne school at Fort Benning, Ga., and was later stationed at Fort Bragg.

He deployed to Afghanistan in May 2009.

His awards and decorations include the Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, Parachutist Badge and the Combat Action Badge.