Staff Sgt. Kenneth Ray Bradley, 5/23/2003

I'm sorry I'm behind on posting this one. It's been a busy few days.

A few nights ago I went back to Firehouse Subs. I go there because I love it that they give money to fire departments all over the country, and that they were founded by actual firefighters, who understand what it means to give the ultimate sacrifice.

I did the $10 gift card thing again. One of the guys who was working that night remembered me -- he was there the last time I did this, and he remembered that it was a soldier who had come in behind me.

I sat down and waited.

I'll be honest, I was not in a good mood. That's part of the reason I decided I had to do number 4 that night. I have recently been through a breakup, and frankly I just don't have much fight left in me. If ever there's a reason to do something for someone else, that's it.

It was just a matter of minutes before this guy came in. I couldn't really hear what they were saying at the register, but I think I heard him thank the employees, and I'm pretty sure he said that was pretty neat. I didn't see him open the card or anything, but he sat at the table in front of me, again, taking no notice that I was there. To me, that's the best part: Knowing that to the people who receive these gifts, it's about nothing but the guy in the card.

Kenneth R. Bradley was 39 when he died of a heart attack while serving in Baquba, Iraq. Originally from Utica, he was with the 588th Engineer Battalion at Fort Hood, Texas. He was Mississippi's fourth serviceman to die in the War on Terror.

A lot of media chose not to cover his death since he didn't die in combat, but in my eyes, he died away from his family, serving his country in a military career that spanned for almost half his life.

Bradley was also a musician. He was in a band for most of his adult life. "He was left-handed, he blew the trumpet and played the guitar," said his cousin, Cleveland Washington.

Bradley left behind his wife Claudia, his son Bryan, and his stepdaughter, Sandra Coleman.

He is buried at Killeen City Cemetery in Texas.