Spc. Randall B. Watson of Petaluma, California attended Casa Grande High, where he played freshman football, and went to Santa Rosa Junior College. His hobbies included restoring hot rods and bodybuilding, his mother said. As a teenager, he and his father restored a 1967 Mercury Cougar. Brian enlisted in January 2007, volunteered for paratrooper training at Fort Benning, Ga., and was a scout in the 4th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team at Fort Bragg. He moved on to the basic airborne course in July 2007 at Fort Benning, Ga., and was assigned to the 82nd Airborne in August 2007. He was deployed to Afghanistan from September 2007 to April 2008. During his seven months in combat, Brian broke from routine and called home about weekly. He didn't worry his family with details and never complained. He thrived on the discipline and training of military life. Brian was planning to pursue a law enforcement career when his enlistment ended in about 1½ years. He faced another deployment before that, possibly to Afghanistan. His awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal and the Combat Action Badge. He died of injuries sustained in the automobile crash. He is survived by his parents, Randall Watson Sr. and Victoria Watson. Preceded in death by his grandfathers, Robert F. Watson, a veteran of the Korean War and Albert C. Vietheer, a veteran of World War II, and his grandmother, Mariliegh J. Runge Vietheer.
Army
4th Squadron
73rd Cavalry Regiment
4th Brigade Combat Team
Fort Bragg, North Carolina
Army
4th Squadron
73rd Cavalry Regiment
4th Brigade Combat Team
Fort Bragg, North Carolina
Spc. Randall B. Watson of Petaluma, California attended Casa Grande High, where he played freshman football, and went to Santa Rosa Junior College. His hobbies included restoring hot rods and bodybuilding, his mother said. As a teenager, he and his father restored a 1967 Mercury Cougar. Brian enlisted in January 2007, volunteered for paratrooper training at Fort Benning, Ga., and was a scout in the 4th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team at Fort Bragg. He moved on to the basic airborne course in July 2007 at Fort Benning, Ga., and was assigned to the 82nd Airborne in August 2007. He was deployed to Afghanistan from September 2007 to April 2008. During his seven months in combat, Brian broke from routine and called home about weekly. He didn't worry his family with details and never complained. He thrived on the discipline and training of military life. Brian was planning to pursue a law enforcement career when his enlistment ended in about 1½ years. He faced another deployment before that, possibly to Afghanistan. His awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal and the Combat Action Badge. He died of injuries sustained in the automobile crash. He is survived by his parents, Randall Watson Sr. and Victoria Watson. Preceded in death by his grandfathers, Robert F. Watson, a veteran of the Korean War and Albert C. Vietheer, a veteran of World War II, and his grandmother, Mariliegh J. Runge Vietheer.
Army
4th Squadron
73rd Cavalry Regiment
4th Brigade Combat Team
Fort Bragg, North Carolina
Army
4th Squadron
73rd Cavalry Regiment
4th Brigade Combat Team
Fort Bragg, North Carolina
