NEWCASTLE -- Funeral services for Staff Sgt. Brian D. Bland, 26, will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at the Crouch Auditorium with the Rev. Leslie Barnett of First United Methodist Church officiating.
Burial will follow in Greenwood Cemetery with full military honors by the U.S. Marine Corps.
He was among the 31 servicemen on the CH-53E helicopter that went down during a sand storm near Ar Rutbah, Iraq, on Jan. 26th. There were no survivors.
Born March 12, 1978, in Newcastle, he spent four years living in Scotland with his family before returning to Newcastle where he graduated from high school in 1995.
After graduation, enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps, was trained as an infantry mortar man, and later graduated from Drill Instructor School.
His mother wrote, "The last time I talked to him, the Sunday before the crash, he said he was going up north to help guard with the elections and in a couple of weeks he would be on the boat for Japan. ... He took every opportunity to advance and make himself better and stronger, for himself, his fellow Marines, and his country."
His military awards include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Marine Corps Drill Instructor Ribbon, and the Navy Unit Commendation Ribbon.
His interests included wrestling, snowboarding, motorcycling, and spending as much time as he could with his family and friends.
He is survived by his wife Stacy of San Diego; mother Beverly Arntson and stepfather Mark Arnston of Rapid City, S.D.; brother Jeremy Bland and his wife Hidie Bland of Sheridan; a niece and a nephew; grandmother Emma Lee Ash of Sheridan; and many aunts, uncles, cousins, and second cousins.
A memorial scholarship fund in honor of Brian will be set up for a graduating Newcastle wrestler in good academic standing.
Burial will follow in Greenwood Cemetery with full military honors by the U.S. Marine Corps.
He was among the 31 servicemen on the CH-53E helicopter that went down during a sand storm near Ar Rutbah, Iraq, on Jan. 26th. There were no survivors.
Born March 12, 1978, in Newcastle, he spent four years living in Scotland with his family before returning to Newcastle where he graduated from high school in 1995.
After graduation, enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps, was trained as an infantry mortar man, and later graduated from Drill Instructor School.
His mother wrote, "The last time I talked to him, the Sunday before the crash, he said he was going up north to help guard with the elections and in a couple of weeks he would be on the boat for Japan. ... He took every opportunity to advance and make himself better and stronger, for himself, his fellow Marines, and his country."
His military awards include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Marine Corps Drill Instructor Ribbon, and the Navy Unit Commendation Ribbon.
His interests included wrestling, snowboarding, motorcycling, and spending as much time as he could with his family and friends.
He is survived by his wife Stacy of San Diego; mother Beverly Arntson and stepfather Mark Arnston of Rapid City, S.D.; brother Jeremy Bland and his wife Hidie Bland of Sheridan; a niece and a nephew; grandmother Emma Lee Ash of Sheridan; and many aunts, uncles, cousins, and second cousins.
A memorial scholarship fund in honor of Brian will be set up for a graduating Newcastle wrestler in good academic standing.
NEWCASTLE -- Funeral services for Staff Sgt. Brian D. Bland, 26, will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at the Crouch Auditorium with the Rev. Leslie Barnett of First United Methodist Church officiating.
Burial will follow in Greenwood Cemetery with full military honors by the U.S. Marine Corps.
He was among the 31 servicemen on the CH-53E helicopter that went down during a sand storm near Ar Rutbah, Iraq, on Jan. 26th. There were no survivors.
Born March 12, 1978, in Newcastle, he spent four years living in Scotland with his family before returning to Newcastle where he graduated from high school in 1995.
After graduation, enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps, was trained as an infantry mortar man, and later graduated from Drill Instructor School.
His mother wrote, "The last time I talked to him, the Sunday before the crash, he said he was going up north to help guard with the elections and in a couple of weeks he would be on the boat for Japan. ... He took every opportunity to advance and make himself better and stronger, for himself, his fellow Marines, and his country."
His military awards include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Marine Corps Drill Instructor Ribbon, and the Navy Unit Commendation Ribbon.
His interests included wrestling, snowboarding, motorcycling, and spending as much time as he could with his family and friends.
He is survived by his wife Stacy of San Diego; mother Beverly Arntson and stepfather Mark Arnston of Rapid City, S.D.; brother Jeremy Bland and his wife Hidie Bland of Sheridan; a niece and a nephew; grandmother Emma Lee Ash of Sheridan; and many aunts, uncles, cousins, and second cousins.
A memorial scholarship fund in honor of Brian will be set up for a graduating Newcastle wrestler in good academic standing.
Burial will follow in Greenwood Cemetery with full military honors by the U.S. Marine Corps.
He was among the 31 servicemen on the CH-53E helicopter that went down during a sand storm near Ar Rutbah, Iraq, on Jan. 26th. There were no survivors.
Born March 12, 1978, in Newcastle, he spent four years living in Scotland with his family before returning to Newcastle where he graduated from high school in 1995.
After graduation, enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps, was trained as an infantry mortar man, and later graduated from Drill Instructor School.
His mother wrote, "The last time I talked to him, the Sunday before the crash, he said he was going up north to help guard with the elections and in a couple of weeks he would be on the boat for Japan. ... He took every opportunity to advance and make himself better and stronger, for himself, his fellow Marines, and his country."
His military awards include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Marine Corps Drill Instructor Ribbon, and the Navy Unit Commendation Ribbon.
His interests included wrestling, snowboarding, motorcycling, and spending as much time as he could with his family and friends.
He is survived by his wife Stacy of San Diego; mother Beverly Arntson and stepfather Mark Arnston of Rapid City, S.D.; brother Jeremy Bland and his wife Hidie Bland of Sheridan; a niece and a nephew; grandmother Emma Lee Ash of Sheridan; and many aunts, uncles, cousins, and second cousins.
A memorial scholarship fund in honor of Brian will be set up for a graduating Newcastle wrestler in good academic standing.
