JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash – The 2-2 Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 7th Infantry Division and the JBLM intelligence community paid homage to one of its fallen heroes, Oct. 10, by dedicating a room in the Intelligence Operations Facility on Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.
Spc. Brittany B. Gordon, 24, of Saint Petersburg, Fla., was killed in action when a suicide bomber attacked her team in Kandahar City, Afghanistan, Oct. 13, 2012, just over one year to the day.
“I had the honor and privilege of representing the United States Army at Brittany Gordon’s memorial service in Florida. I was struck by the impact that this young woman Brittany Gordon had on so many people,” said Maj. Gen. Stephen Lanza, commanding general of the 7th ID. “Brittany Gordon was special. I listened to her dad speak. She was a leader. She was a role model. She was what we all aspire to be.”
“[I was] sitting there and I was struck by this young woman who had lived 20 plus years and the impact that she had on so many lives. I was struck by the fact that it’s not necessarily how long you live, but it’s the impact that you have on those around you. By dedicating this room today, she’s still with us, and she will be with us,” added Lanza.
Cedric Gordon, Brittany’s father, was present at the ceremony and spoke about the last time he had spoken with Brittany,to the crowd of more than 100 soldiers, leaders and friends who came to support the dedication. “Everyone knew that when Brittany called, whether I was in a staff meeting or whatever, that meeting was gonna stop and I was gonna take the time to see how Brittany was doing,” said Gordon. “She called me up about 10 or 11 in the morning and she told me that she had been going out on some missions. She said they had her going out a lot. I said, ‘well how do you feel about that?’ She said I love it, I enjoy it. And then she said I don’t think I’ll be able to go out on anymore because I’ve been going on so many.”
Gordon went on to explain his concern after he didn’t hear from Brittany and the events that followed when he found out what had happened.
“I had the opportunity to meet some [wonderful] people in the military. As I got to know you, what I heard from everyone was that Brittany would never be forgotten, and today solidifies that. This dedication means the world to me,” said Gordon.
Those in attendance will simply – remember Brittany Gordon as a graceful, intelligent, and dedicated soldier, “Her commander said she exuded grace. I don’t know that many people who exude grace in combat,” said Lanza of Gordon.