Welcome to the
iHonor American Flag
remembering U.S. Marine
Lance Corporal Lara
Welcome to the
iHonor American Flag
remembering U.S. Marine
Lance Corporal Lara
iHonor GWOT (Global War on Terror) Fallen:
U.S. Marine Corps Lance Corporal
Brandon T. Lara of New Braunfels, TX
U.S. Marine Corps Lance Corporal
Brandon T. Lara of New Braunfels, TX
Lance Corporal Brandon Lara, age 20, served in Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF)
Assigned to 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, based out of Camp Pendleton, CA
Killed in action, on July 19, 2009, during combat operations in Ubaydi, Iraq
We honor and thank US Marine Corps Lara for defending our freedoms and fighting to liberate the lives of others.
Assigned to 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, based out of Camp Pendleton, CA
Killed in action, on July 19, 2009, during combat operations in Ubaydi, Iraq
We honor and thank US Marine Corps Lara for defending our freedoms and fighting to liberate the lives of others.
Take a moment to pay tribute to Marine LCpl Lara by watching our short iHonor Flag dedication and Taps Ceremony video
Brandon T. Lara
Born on October 7, 1988 in Wichita Falls, Texas
Brandon's plan to become a Marine started at age 10 when his favorite toys were guns, swords, and knives
He was strong-willed, fearless, and relentlessly pursued his interests - like his love for being outdoors
Brandon played baseball, shot paintball, rode motorcycles, and enjoyed spending time with his family
Born on October 7, 1988 in Wichita Falls, Texas
Brandon's plan to become a Marine started at age 10 when his favorite toys were guns, swords, and knives
He was strong-willed, fearless, and relentlessly pursued his interests - like his love for being outdoors
Brandon played baseball, shot paintball, rode motorcycles, and enjoyed spending time with his family
2006 graduate of Canyon HS in New Braunfels, Texas
He missed graduation from New Braunfels' Canyon High School because he was at Marine Corps boot camp - having finished his HS credits a semester early
( He was training in a helmet and fatigues while his classmates donned caps and gowns ;)
He missed graduation from New Braunfels' Canyon High School because he was at Marine Corps boot camp - having finished his HS credits a semester early
( He was training in a helmet and fatigues while his classmates donned caps and gowns ;)
After completing School of Infantry training, he was assigned to an infantry unit out of Twentynine Palms, CA
Brandon's first combat tour was from February 2008 to December 2008 in Iraq - where he served as a squad automatic weapon gunner
Shortly thereafter, he volunteered for another combat tour - departing in February 2009 with 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, out of Camp Pendleton, CA - where he served as PTT-4's (PTT = Police Transition Team - 4's) third vehicle gunner
On July 19, 2009, while on a convoy mission, LCpl Lara's vehicle was struck by 2 grenades and small arms fire
Despite being mortally wounded by this attack, he pulled out his pistol and continued firing at the enemy until his last breath
For his actions that day, he was bestowed with the Bronze Star with Valor device and Purple Heart posthumously
Brandon was survived by mother, Shannon Martin, brother, Jonathan, sisters, Victoria and Rebecca Lara and Stormi McCandless, and father, Jacob Lara
Brandon's first combat tour was from February 2008 to December 2008 in Iraq - where he served as a squad automatic weapon gunner
Shortly thereafter, he volunteered for another combat tour - departing in February 2009 with 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, out of Camp Pendleton, CA - where he served as PTT-4's (PTT = Police Transition Team - 4's) third vehicle gunner
On July 19, 2009, while on a convoy mission, LCpl Lara's vehicle was struck by 2 grenades and small arms fire
Despite being mortally wounded by this attack, he pulled out his pistol and continued firing at the enemy until his last breath
For his actions that day, he was bestowed with the Bronze Star with Valor device and Purple Heart posthumously
Brandon was survived by mother, Shannon Martin, brother, Jonathan, sisters, Victoria and Rebecca Lara and Stormi McCandless, and father, Jacob Lara
Marines view the Battlefield Cross honoring Lance Cpl. Brandon T. Lara, who was killed in action when his convoy was attacked on July 19, 2009
[ photo credit: Cpl Murrary / USMC on DVIDS Hub ]
[ photo credit: Cpl Murrary / USMC on DVIDS Hub ]
Inspirational Quote about Brandon Lara
"He loved the Marine Corps, but most of all, he loved being an infantry Marine. As Marines, we go down fighting, and that's exactly what he did."
-Marine Cpl. Anthony Reaves, a PTT-4 teammate of LCpl. Lara
-Marine Cpl. Anthony Reaves, a PTT-4 teammate of LCpl. Lara
"He stood up to every challenge we gave him. He would spend seven, eight, even nine hours a day up in the turret, just to make sure his team was safe."
-Marine Capt. Aron Axe, OIC of PTT-4
-Marine Capt. Aron Axe, OIC of PTT-4
[ LCpl Lara's military decorations as displayed on TogetherWeServed.com (unofficial) ]
[ Buried at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio, TX - Section 40, Site 1146 ]
Video Tributes for LCpl Brandon Lara
(skip to 8:12 mark of video if want to see family pics video of Brandon)
Sources for Tribute:
CLICK HERE to review Lance Corporal Lara's tribute at the Military Time's Honor the Fallen site
GO HERE to see Lara's TogetherWeServed.com page
CLICK HERE to examine the DVIDS (Defense Visual Information Distribution Service) article about the PPT-4's Battlefield Cross memorial ceremony for LCpl Lara
GO HERE to read the American Fallen Soldiers memorial page
CLICK HERE to review the Find-a-Grave website commemoration for LCpl Lara
CLICK HERE to review Lance Corporal Lara's tribute at the Military Time's Honor the Fallen site
GO HERE to see Lara's TogetherWeServed.com page
CLICK HERE to examine the DVIDS (Defense Visual Information Distribution Service) article about the PPT-4's Battlefield Cross memorial ceremony for LCpl Lara
GO HERE to read the American Fallen Soldiers memorial page
CLICK HERE to review the Find-a-Grave website commemoration for LCpl Lara
[ American Fallen Soldiers Portrait by Phil Taylor ]
iHonor American Flag : Visitor Comments for Marine Lance Corporal Brandon Lara
... posted here from newest to oldest ...
... posted here from newest to oldest ...
LCpl Brandon Lara,
I was fortunate and honored to learn your heroic story from one of your OIF (Operation Iraqi Freedom) teammates here in Highlands Ranch - James Heyer. After hearing of your deeds from James and witnessing his American pride at his H&H Auto business, I became determined to make an iHonor Flag paying tribute to you. I hope this iHonor Flag prompts other H&H Auto customers to ask about and learn of your inspirational life and military heroics. Your Marine Corps career may have only lasted 3 years, but from all indications, you were a Marine at heart for more than half of your life (10+ years). Thanks for setting a bold, professional, brotherly-love example for your fellow Marines and American citizens. And, now, I'm sure you are carrying-on and living up to the Marines' Hymn closing lines - where we "will find the streets (of Heaven) are guarded by United States Marines," including Lance Corporal Brandon Lara.
- from Sean on 3/21/2020
I was fortunate and honored to learn your heroic story from one of your OIF (Operation Iraqi Freedom) teammates here in Highlands Ranch - James Heyer. After hearing of your deeds from James and witnessing his American pride at his H&H Auto business, I became determined to make an iHonor Flag paying tribute to you. I hope this iHonor Flag prompts other H&H Auto customers to ask about and learn of your inspirational life and military heroics. Your Marine Corps career may have only lasted 3 years, but from all indications, you were a Marine at heart for more than half of your life (10+ years). Thanks for setting a bold, professional, brotherly-love example for your fellow Marines and American citizens. And, now, I'm sure you are carrying-on and living up to the Marines' Hymn closing lines - where we "will find the streets (of Heaven) are guarded by United States Marines," including Lance Corporal Brandon Lara.
- from Sean on 3/21/2020
Due to the Stay at Home order for the coronavirus pandemic, this iHonor Flag was delivered in May instead of March
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