[Philmont]: A Star for Brian

Well, Folks, it's that time,

    The glowing embers of yet again another Philmont experience are burning down, now. The memories are as set as they're going to be, the lessons learned filed away for hopeful use later, and it's time to say Goodbye to my Philfriends again. I'm going to be signing off in a few days; but before I go, I want to thank each of you so very much for helping get me and thereby my crew readier for Philmont 2004. I had every question I wrote answered with clarity, accuracy, and a wonderful Scouting spirit. I really, really appreciate your being here; you were a constant I relied on; and you were what I needed. Thank you so very, very much. I want you to do one thing for me: remember I'm here. If you ever need my help to provide answers or ideas or if I can give you or you need help in or near McKinney, I'm pretty easy to find.

    There's one more thing I need you to do: As you read this and say " 'Till we meet again on the trail," to me, I want you to pause a Scout moment and remember Brian Smith.

    Brian joined our troop in 1983, after achieving his Arrow of Light in our feeder Pack 303. He was awarded the rank of Eagle Scout in 1987. I was his Scoutmaster during most of that time; he was one of "Jerry's kids." His parents, particularly his mother, Linda, couldn't have been more involved or committed to Scouting and Troop 303. Linda became our Committee Chair and served many years training other new parents on our District Training Team. She has the District Award of Merit and is much beloved in the memory of our Troop. She and Bill raised Brian and his younger sister, Aaron (now a veterinarian in Austin) right across the street from my house. Brian and my son, David (two years older), were childhood playmates and life-long buddies.

    After graduating high school, he earned a law degree from Baylor and practiced a while here in McKinney. Not being happy with that, he decided his true calling and what he really wanted to do was be a career Army officer. So, in his late 20's, he joined the Army, went to boot camp, and completed Officer Candidate School in Georgia. He chose the Armor branch and wanted eventually to be in the Cavalry. He loved the chivalry and pageantry of the medieval knight era. He finished advanced officer training at the "Home of Armor" in Fort Knox, Kentucky. Last September, while in Austin on leave, I called him while down there attending a continuing-education conference. It was one of those beautiful Fall-Spring evenings Austin's so famous for and we ate Mexican food and went for ice cream together. He told me he had a couple options for first duty assignment; and the one he wanted to choose, although somewhat reluctantly, was a combat tour in Iraq. He felt it would be career-enhancing since he would be competing all the time with West Point graduates. He also said he felt he would never be more prepared to be in combat as a 2nd Lt. than right out of Ft. Knox. He also said he felt we had a strong obligation to finish what the United States was doing over there and he wanted to be a part of that push.

    At 10:24 pm Friday night, I received the following email:

"Everyone,

"This is the most difficult thing I have ever written. Just about an hour ago, two men from Fort Hood appeared at our door and informed Brian's father and me that Brian had been killed on July 2, just hours ago. He took a shot to the chest while outside his tank.

"KC [Brian's wife in Austin] has been informed. We are headed to Austin. There have been no plans at this point for anything. The Army people will be in touch with KC sometime tomorrow.

"Linda Smith"
  
    Brian had been in Iraq since about the 1st of February. He was stationed very close to Falujah and recently was leading tank patrols in and around that city and the surrounding villages. David and I have been receiving copies of the emails he's been sending home to family and friends. The messages for the last two weeks have indicated more and more shooting-related contact. He'd been shot at and almost hit twice before; but the tank's armor and turret protection saved him. He always wore body armor; but lately Brian had written how extremely hot the temperatures had become over there. It's possible he opened the front of the jacket to release some of the heat but didn't close it back when he dismounted from the tank for something.
 
    Troop 303 is seventy-seven years old. We have a long history and many traditions. One is that none of our Scouts, parents, and Scouters ever leave us. They become part of the Fringe, our alumni. No matter how many years ago they were here or for how long, they are always with us. We say they are represented by the golden fringe that surrounds our Troop flag. We call it "On the Fringe of Something Great." Also, a troop this old inevitively has the unwanted opportunity to apply one of BSA's little known regulations: A troop may affix a gold star to the border of its flag for any member who gallantly gave his life in the service of his country. Until this week, we had one star, an embroidered gold one, about two inches high, near the top, close to the brass Scout trefoil. It is for Bill Bryan, a Marine who gave his life, fighting, mind you, in February, 1968, near Khe Sahn. Bill was awarded the highest award the Marine Corps can give, the Navy Cross, for trying to save two of his wounded squad members while taking Hill 881. We tell Bill's story to our Scouts as often as possible, especially when some brand new, young, little one points at it and asks what's that star for.

    Now, sadly, Troop 303 is going to send its old, honored flag off to National again and have another embroidered, two inch, gold star sewn on. It'll be right below Bill's. The two of our boys have gone where all young soldiers go who died too soon. They go with our appreciation and pride; but they go where there is no chance to have families and children, no chance to watch them grow, no chance ever to be Assistant Scoutmasters, and no chance ever to climb Philmont's trails as an Advisor and watch the "butterflies" come out of their cocoons when they "get it" on about Day 9. Brian is gone now, gone to his family and those of us who longed to see him come home safely. I know, however, that as long as the flag of Troop 303 flies, part of Brian's spirit will live on in a Star for Brian.

    Brian's parents' address is 311 Randy Lee Ln, McKinney TX 75071. Please hug your son hard and long as I did mine today and take a Scouter's moment to remember Brian Smith, Eagle Scout, 2d Lt., USA. As you and yours celebrate our great nation's birthday tomorrow, please tell them "Freedom isn't free," and that you know one particular reason why that's so.

The only thing I can think of to close with and the only thing that's propping me up right now is remembering . . . A Scout is Brave.

Jerry Lewis, 610-M2 2004
Committee Member, Troop 303
McKinney, Texas

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As you gather around this virtual campfire with fellow
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cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent.
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Received on Sat Jul 3 18:42:23 2004