Valor
Let me tell you about my brother. I hope you will indulge me here.
When my little brother (okay once he was my little brother, now he has buffed up and is just younger) was in the fifth grade a shy girl was constantly getting picked on. Though my brother was one of the youngest in his class, he was also one of the biggest. He went up to the teacher one day when the rest of the kids had left for some activity. My brother asked to be moved next to the girl. When the teacher asked why, my brother responded with, “Because those boys won't pick on her if I am next to her.” The teacher did move Brennan and the ridicule stopped.
My brother did not play on the basketball team until his senior year. Up until then you would find him in the stands yelling his guts out as one of Elsberry's biggest fans. But his senior year he decided to join. We come from a town small enough that this is possible. My brother was not the best player on the team, but he was its heart and soul. When my brother was on the court, he was there to not just play ball, but to be a sportsman. If a member of the opposing team fell during a play, my brother would be the first to help him up when the whistle was blown. If someone was not sinking their free throws, my brother would be there to boost the guy's spirits. NBA players take note.
Now this is not to say my brother did not have his faults. Even while I was at college, news of his exploits reached me. I would tell them here, but they are.... well if you really want to know, ask privately. But still, all in all I am a very proud older brother.
So imagine how much pride I feel in knowing that Sgt. Brennan Lagemann was awarded the Bronze Star with Valor by General David Petraeus. He made sure a fellow soldier's body was recovered and was able to keep the rest of squad out of harms way while clearing IEDs in Afghanistan. One family got to bury their son and not just an empty casket because of him. Other family's might have been spared the pain of losing someone. My brother is being pretty humble about the whole thing. He told me that it was not a big deal. It was just his job.
Love you Brennan! Do your job and then come home.