Marine Sgt. Bradley J. Harper
Death: Aug 03, 2005
of Dresden Ohio; assigned to the 4th Assault Amphibian Battalion 4th Marine Division Marine Forces Reserve Norfolk Va.; attached to Regimental Combat Team 2 2nd Marine Division II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward); killed Aug. 3 when his amphibious assault vehicle was attacked by an improvised explosive device while he was conducting combat operations south of Hadithah Iraq. Also killed were Marine Lance Cpl. Timothy M. Bell Jr. Lance Cpl. Eric J. Bernholtz Lance Cpl. Nicholas William B. Bloem Sgt. Justin F. Hoffman Cpl. David Kenneth J. Kreuter and Cpl. David S. Stewart. Marine wanted a chance to do his part The Associated Press Bradley J. Harper traded his patrols of Virginia Beach in police blues for patrols in Iraq in camouflage gear. “It’s two different worlds” Harper said before he left. “This is my chance to go to do my part. The sooner you get over there the sooner you get back.” Harper25 of Dresden Ohio was killed Aug. 3 by a roadside bomb south of Hadithah. He was based at Norfolk. He stu Died criminal justice at Ohio University then moved to Virginia Beach Va. to become a police officer in January 2004. “He was exactly what we wanted in an officer and a citizen” said Harry McBrien the recruiter for the Virginia Beach Police Department. “He was an all-around awesome guy and a real go-getter.” When the academy staff “tried to stress him out a little bit” he “just smiled” and kept going McBrien said. “What can I tell you about him?” asked Master Police Officer Rene Ball. “He was a stellar candidate” for the 750-member department and he showed himself to be “an even better recruit.” Harper is survived by his wife Kendra. Operation Iraqi Freedom