A Bridge of Remembrance

Northeast of Laurens, SC, where Highway 49 crosses over the Enoree River, there is a bridge named SSG Brandon F. Eggleston Memorial Bridge.  The South Carolina Senate and House approved legislation in May and June of 2015 to name the bridge in honor of Brandon, a Green Beret we often called ‘Eggs.’  I want to share a special memory about the bridge and a few reflections of Staff Sergeant Brandon ‘Eggs’ Eggleston.

Brandon was a young man I came to know and respect while serving in Bravo Company, 4th Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group at Ft. Bragg, NC.  I was blessed to serve as the Company Sergeant Major in 2010 and 2011, and along with the commander, LTC Rod Young, who was a Major at the time, we led 87 incredible men in the newly formed Battalion.  Brandon was a member of ODA 3423, a detachment with outstanding leaders and team guys who were motivated, professional, and eager to deploy and fight the enemy.

I fondly remember hanging out with the guys in their team room, watching them in training, and interacting on our off time.  They were a special group of guys.  Rod and I were fortunate to have quality professionals throughout the six teams we oversaw.  I especially had a fondness for the NCOs.  The younger NCOs had a special place in my heart as they were the ones that would eventually become leaders of the Regiment.  Their motivation and desire to excel at a young age and early in their career had my utmost respect.  It was a humble experience to be their Sergeant Major, a moment in time that I will cherish for the rest of my life.

Eggs and the other Staff Sergeants often reminded me of a younger version of myself.  I saw similarities in their levels of motivation, being carefree, and their desire to do great things.  In other ways, they were much brighter, smarter, and had experienced more than I had been when I was at a similar stage career-wise as them.  The young guys were our future, and I wanted to do my part to help them achieve their full potential.

I can see the faces of the men as I write, and their names, when they come to mind, bring special memories.  I also think of the men that are no longer amongst us that I spent time with in Bravo Company.  Greg Trent, Ben Follansbee, Brandon Eggleston, and Mark McCowan were lost way too young, and the memories of them are special.

I can’t recall many times that Eggs didn’t have a smile on his face.  Sure, there were times he didn’t have a smile, like when we were doing live-tissue training.  I recall that Eggs wasn’t fond of doing intravenous intervention training, especially the part about sticking someone with a needle.  He was somewhat reluctant when I had him stick me, and all eyes were on him.  We all laughed as the needle shook side to side as he approached my arm.  Whether he liked something or not, he never hesitated to execute.  But more times than not, I recall seeing his smile and display of confidence and motivation to take on any challenge.

I enjoyed my interactions with Eggs as he felt comfortable joking around with me yet could turn the switch on and be mission-focused at a moments notice.  He was simply a great young man who loved his wife and kids, his teammates, and his country and wanted to contribute and answer the call to serve while his country was at war.  He was a Soldier!

Forever etched in my soul is a conversation I had with Mark McCowan in April 2012.  Mark was serving as a Team Sergeant at the time and deployed to a combat theater.  After moving to a new assignment, I remained at Ft. Bragg but kept in regular contact with the guys in B Company.  The 2 am call was not unusual in the military, and a call at 0 dark thirty was seldom good.  I recognized Mark’s voice immediately and knew from the tone that the news coming my way was not good.  Mark shared that three of his guys were killed in action, and one of them was Brandon.  Mark felt that I needed to hear from him first about the loss of Eggs.  I appreciated Mark informing me, and the conversation we shared was special.  Mark cared for his guys and took the loss of the three guys he led hard.  Unfortunately, we lost Mark in February 2017 when he had a heart attack while helping one of his soldiers with a medical appointment.

Every memorial of a fallen Soldier is tough, and attending Eggs’ service was a very emotional moment.  There are never the right words, and one’s presence, respect, gratitude, and care for the family and teammates are the focus during such occasions.  Not too long after we lost Eggs, I stopped by a shop to have a plaque made and came across several remembrance bracelets on the store owner’s shelf.  The one pictured is the bracelet I wear daily and was one of the items displayed on the store’s shelf.  I went to purchase it and mentioned to the store owner that Eggs was one of my Soldiers, and the store owner gave it to me at no charge.

In 2018, I closed a chapter of my life that spanned 31 years as a Soldier.  I had fond memories of every assignment, and 27 years as a Green Beret left me with memories of great teammates, adventure, exciting locations, and gratitude.  Above all, the people I crossed paths with stood out as something I was grateful for as we shared experiences that, for the most part, were unique and special. 

In Fall 2020, my wife and I purchased our forever home in Greenville, SC.  Neither of us has roots in South Carolina and had spent very little time here while we lived one state away in North Carolina.  I spent most of my Army career at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina, and the only times I recall being in South Carolina were either driving through the state or visiting Myrtle Beach occasionally.   A recon trip to Greenville, SC, in 2020 resulted in the area climbing to the top spot on our list of potential regions to settle. 

After we closed on the house, I made periodic trips to move some belongings, work on the house, and get familiar with the area.  On one trip, I left the GPS off and enjoyed the drive listening to music.  As I approached the Upstate, SC area, I missed my turn for Greenville and found myself on I-26 North towards Spartanburg.  I realized it immediately and started to look for an off-ramp to get back on track.  The first exit ended up being several miles away.  Once I exited, I decided to drive cross-country instead of going South on I-26 to get back on my intended route. 

As I drove cross-country with no cars traveling in either direction, I experienced a moment I will never forget. I was on Highway 49 and came upon a bridge with a sign that said, “SSG Brandon F. Eggleston Memorial Bridge.” I had goosebumps, and after crossing the bridge, I pulled over and walked to the sign. I knew a bridge in honor of Eggs had been named several years before that day in 2020. At the time, I did not know where the bridge was. The sign had several flags emplaced that day, and I was glad to know that people remembered Eggs. I took several pictures, sent them to Karen, Brandon’s wife, and posted them on social media.

One of the guys saw the social media posting and messaged me that he and his family had been visiting the bridge on Memorial Day to pay respects to Eggs and placed flags around the marker.  I knew at that moment that the bridge would be my place of duty every Memorial Day now that I was a resident of Greenville, a short drive from SSG Brandon F. Eggleston Memorial Bridge. 

I’m often reminded of the great men and women that have served our Nation throughout its history.  Having the privilege to serve alongside many who gave their lives in service to the Nation is hard to describe.  It stirs a range of emotions, from gratitude to have known such Giants to sadness that their lives were cut short.  Their memories are what we treasure, and their legacy and values are what we speak of and share so that their service is honored and others may live a life of freedom. 

While Memorial Day is a special day that comes around once a year, remembering our heroes can and should be a regular occurrence.  I’m thankful there are markers of remembrance in many places that encourage us to pause, reflect, and honor the Nation’s heroes.  I’m grateful to have served in units such as the 3rd Special Forces Group, which has a Memorial Walk with stones inscribed with the names of Soldiers that gave their lives in combat.

Freedom has a cost, and our Nation’s history has been shaped by men and women that have sacrificed so much.  These men and women represent all walks of life and profession, backgrounds and ethnicity, but share a common theme: service and sacrifice.  May we who remain cherish their memories and pay respect to the fallen, honor and care for their families, and strive to be the best Americans we can be.

Rest in Peace, Brandon.

DOL,
Pat