HONORED ON PANEL 39W, LINE 58 OF THE WALL
MICHAEL FRANCIS BRANIN JR
WALL NAME
MICHAEL F BRANIN JR
PANEL / LINE
39W/58
DATE OF BIRTH
CASUALTY PROVINCE
DATE OF CASUALTY
HOME OF RECORD
COUNTY OF RECORD
STATE
BRANCH OF SERVICE
RANK
REMEMBRANCES
LEFT FOR MICHAEL FRANCIS BRANIN JR
POSTED ON 2.27.2005
POSTED BY: Theresa Branin Ward
A True American
My brother,Michael,never had a chance to experience what every teenager should.He was drafted at the age of 18 after graduating high school.He dreamed of attending technical school to becomae an auto mechanic;marrying his girlfried;eventually opening up his own shop and having children.Unfortunately,none of this came to fruition. From Kearny, NJ he left for Fort Benning GA and then to Fort Bragg. At the age of 19, he was going to a foreign country,leaving his family and friends and traveling thousands of miles to an unknown land.My family and I wrote to my brother almost daily when he was in Vietnam,but only received letters back once or twice a month.When we did, we realized why it was so difficult to correspond.The nights and most of the days were filled with horror and it seems as if everyone around him was getting either killed or injured.My brother realized it was only a matter of time before he met that awful fate himself.About six months after he arrived in Vietnam, he was killed by mortar fire saving one of his friends he had met over there.He received the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star. This was the way my brother lived his life;always watching out and taking care of others.I am proud to be an American because of my brother and am more proud of him.He was and still is a true American.My heart and love are with you always.
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POSTED ON 3.10.2004
POSTED BY: Nicole P. Ward
Sorry We Never Met
Our names are Nicole and Angela Ward. You were our uncle. Even though we never met, you live in our hearts and memories. My mom speaks of you and forever reminds us of your courage, strength and sense of caring. You showed these qualities every day and night in Vietnam. How frightened you must have been. You were twenty years old and in a foreign country with no family; only those friends you met in the service.I look at your pictures and can see that you and my mom were sister and brother.My only regret is that I am sorry we never met.You will live in our hearts forever.God Bless You for giving your life for the country you loved.Miss you and love you.
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POSTED ON 5.31.2002
POSTED BY: MARTIN P. GORSKI
Michael Was Real AMERICAN
MICHAEL WAS MY BABY SITTER I REMEMBER A TRUE MAN ,HE SPOKE TO ME AND MY BROTHERS WITH AUTHORITY,HE TOLD US HE WAS PROUD TO DO HIS DUTY FOR AMERICA.I AM NOW 45 YEARS OLD ,ONE OF MY SONS IS A UNITED STATES MARINE AND I HAVE TOLD HIM ABOUT MICHAEL ,HOW MICHAEL WAS SO DEDICATED TO HIS COUNTRY,ABOUT THE FREEDOM WE MUST FIGHT FOR AND DIE FOR. I WILL NEVER FORGET THIS MAN ,HE WAS A MODEL FOR THE YOUNG TO LOOK UP TO.
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POSTED ON 12.6.2001
POSTED BY: THERESA A. WARD
MICHAEL, MY HERO
EVEN THOUGH IT HAS BEEN OVER THIRTY YEARS SINCE YOU'RE GONE, I STILL FEEL AS IF YOU ARE WITH ME. I THINK OF YOU EVERY DAY, AND AT NIGHT I PRAY THAT I WILL FIND THE COURAGE AND STRENGTH IN MYSELF THAT YOU POSSESSED. I LOOK AT YOUR PICTURE AND READ YOUR LETTERS OFTEN, BOTH OF WHICH I TREASURE. THE ONLY REGRET I HAVE IS THAT YOU NEVER GOT THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET MY DAUGHTERS, NICOLE & ANGELA, AND MY HUSBAND PAUL. I SPEAK OF YOU AS IF YOU ARE STILL HERE, ALWAYS IN MY MIND AND IN MY HEART. I THINK OF THE GREAT TIMES WE SHARED AS KIDS, OF HOW YOU PROTECTED AND CODDLED ME, AND HOW SAFE I FELT WITH YOU. YOU WERE AND STILL AM MY PROTECTOR AND MY HERO. I LOVE YOU DEARLY AND MISS YOU. I WILL ALWAYS BE YOUR CHUBBY BUNNY.
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