Grave marker for SSgt Brian F. Piercy in Clovis Cemetery, Clovis (Fresno
County), California |
Brian Francis Piercy
U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Brian Francis Piercy, age 27, passed away on
Monday, July 19, 2010, of injuries sustained after insurgents detonated
an improvised explosive device in the Arghandab River Valley,
Afghanistan.
Brian was born on March 11, 1983, in Visalia,
California. He spent the vast majority of his life living in Clovis,
California, and was a proud graduate of three Clovis Unified Schools,
Red Bank Elementary, Alta Sierra Intermediate, and Buchanan High. He
then spent two years at Fresno Pacific University as a Liberal Studies
major before enlisting in the United States Army in October 2004.
Following basic and airborne training at Fort Benning,
Georgia, Brian was stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, starting in
2005.
While Brian was a student at Fresno Pacific, he met
the love of his life, Christina Perreault. They were married on December
16, 2006. In spite of being apart for his two deployments, they
developed an incredibly strong marriage filled with love, laughter, and
fun. In his formative years, Brian was a solid student who loved to
learn. He was an active member of the People's Church Youth Group, and
through his participation, developed a deep faith. Brian had a passion
for music, taking piano lessons and being an active part of his high
school band's percussion section. He continued to play piano through the
years, finding a way to express his ideas and feelings through both
playing and composing. Brian was known for having a great sense of humor
and for being a positive, upbeat person who made people around him of
all ages feel comfortable and valued.
When Brian joined the United States Army, he found a
home there and was quickly recognized for his keen intellect and dynamic
leadership abilities. He was part of the Army's 2nd Battalion, 508th
Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne
Division.
Brian loved being a soldier and believed in the
importance of service to his country and his fellow soldiers. He was
known as a man of integrity and was well respected by all those with
whom he served, including his superiors. He took his responsibilities
seriously, making every effort to always have things "squared away",
doing what needed to be done with honor. He proudly served his country
through two deployments totaling twenty-seven months as a part of
Operation Enduring Freedom. |
Brian is the seventh Buchanan High School graduate to
be killed while serving on active duty in either Iraq or Afghanistan
since 2004.
Brian is survived by his wife, Christina Perreault
Piercy of Fayetteville, North Carolina; his mother, Carol Piercy, now
from Los Angeles; his father, Thomas F. Piercy, III of Clovis; his
fraternal twin brother, Eric Piercy of Clovis; his brother, Specialist
Kevin Piercy, currently stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina; his
step-brother, David Piercy of Fresno; and his three grandparents,
Stanley Barnes of Visalia, and Thomas F. Piercy, II, and Juanita Piercy
of Tustin.
A Funeral Service will be held at People's Church,
7172 North Cedar Avenue, Fresno, Ca. on Friday, July 30, 2010, at 10:00
a.m. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to
the National Veterans Foundation, attention Brian Piercy Memorial Fund,
9841 Airport Boulevard, Suite 418, Los Angeles, Ca. 90045. The National
Veterans Foundation's mission is to provide support for all veterans and
their families who need physical, financial, and emotional support for
things such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
BOICE FUNERAL HOME, 308 Pollasky Avenue, Clovis,
California (559)299-4372
[Fresno Bee, Fresno, CA, July 29, 2010]
Funeral
for a soldier
Family follows the casket of Staff Sgt. Brian F.
Piercy at Peoples Church in Clovis on Friday. Piercy, 27, died
Monday in Arghandab River Valley, Afghanistan, of injuries when
insurgents attacked his unit using an improvised explosive device.
Piercy was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment,
4th Brigade Combat team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.
[The Signal, Santa Clara CA, July 31, 2010] |