DALLAS, TX, USA U.S. Army PV2, D COMPANY, 1ST BATTALION, 503RD INFANTRY, 2D INFANTRY DIVISION, APO AP 96224 AR RAMADI, IRAQ 11/26/2004
A New York City native and son of a New York firefighter, Private Brian K. Grant took the Sept. 11 attacks personally. They motivated him to leave behind his life in Dallas, TX and join the Army full-time. “I was a fireman in New York City and lost many friends (in the attacks),” said the soldier’s older brother Michael Grant. “His brother Kevin was a policeman and lost friends. I think it had an influence on his life.”
Brian was killed November 26, 2004 by small-arms fire in Ramadi, Iraq. He was assigned to Camp Howze, Korea. As a soldier, Brian impressed family members by joining an elite Army group. “He got right into special forces,” Michael Grant said. “He was a good man. It’s not an easy job to get right away.”
“He was a very patriotic kid,” his father, John Grant, said, adding that the soldier wanted to serve his country after the September 11, 2001, attacks and had been in Iraq a short time before he was killed. “He didn´t even have a year in.” He also said his son tried to reassure family members in his letters that he was safe. “He always said, ‘Don´t worry,'” said John Grant, who is retired and living in Tavares, Florida.
Brian spent much of his adult life working for Cintas and was employed by the commercial uniform company in North Carolina before moving to Dallas about four years ago. He requested transfer to Cintas´ Dallas operation, where he was a service sales representative. “He was real conscientious,” said Cheryl Duffey, Cintas’ Dallas office manager. “He took the time to get to know his customers. He was real friendly.”
In addition to his father, Brian is survived by his mother, Carolann Grant of Tavares, Florida; three brothers, Michael Grant of Mooresville, North Carolina, and Kevin Grant and John Grant Jr., both of Staten Island; and a sister, Maureen Grant of Staten Island.
Comments