Army Staff Sgt. Brock A. Beery

Remember Our Heroes

Army Staff Sgt. Brock A. Beery,30, of White House, Tenn.

Staff Sgt. Beery was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 123rd Armor Regiment, Kentucky Army National Guard, Bowling Green, Ky.; killed March 23 when an improvised explosive device detonated near his LMTV followed by enemy small arms fire during combat operations in Habbaniyah, Iraq.

FRANKFORT, Ky.--One Kentucky National Guard Soldier was killed when his armored vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device (IED) near Al Habbaniyah, (pronounced “owl ha-ban-ee-yah”), which is west of Fallujah in Iraq on Thursday, March 23.

Killed was Staff Sgt. Brock A. Beery, 30, of Whitehouse, Tenn. Beery was assigned to the Kentucky Army National Guard’s Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 123rd Armor, based in Bowling Green. The unit mobilized for Operation Iraqi Freedom in March of 2005 and deployed to the Persian Gulf that July.

At the time of the incident Beery was driving a fully-armored light medium tactical vehicle (LMTV), the Army’s newest version of the 2 and ½ half ton truck.

Originally from Warsaw, Ind., Beery is survived by his wife, Sara and a seven year old daughter. He joined the Indiana National Guard in 1993 and transferred to the Kentucky Army National Guard in 1997. He took a break in service in 2000 and rejoined in February of 2001. He was a full-time employee of the Kentucky Army National Guard working for his unit in Bowling Green.

Beery will be posthumously presented the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, the Kentucky Distinguished Service Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal and the Combat Infantry Badge

"The death of Staff Sgt. Beery is a tragedy for his family, the Army National Guard and the Commonwealth of Kentucky," said Maj. Gen. Donald C. Storm, Adjutant General for Kentucky. "He was a fine soldier who made the ultimate sacrifice for his nation. His family is in our prayers and we will continue to support them throughout their time of grief.”

In a statement about her husband, Sara Beery said, “Brock was a loving husband, and a very devoted dad. He enjoyed his family, off road four wheeling adventures, collecting guns and hunting.”

She went on to say “Brock was devoted in the business of taking care of his soldiers and meeting their needs. He was a father, husband, son, friend and a soldier. He was the type who would be first to volunteer for a mission.”

The Beery family appreciates the support they have received from their friends and community. They thank the media for understanding their need to grieve and do not wish to conduct media interviews.

Staff Sgt. Brock Beery, joined the Indiana Army National Guard on Feb. 23, 1993 as a 17-year-old high school junior. He completed Basic Training and Advanced Individualized training at Fort Benning, Ga. In May of 1997 he transferred to the Kentucky Army National Guard, joining Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 123rd Armor in Bowling Green.

Staff Sgt. Beery separated from the Guard and entered the individual ready reserve Feb. 22, 2000 then later re-joined the Kentucky Army National Guard on Feb. 13, 2001. He was promoted to Staff Sgt. on Jan. 1, 2004.

Staff Sgt. Beery was a full time soldier in the Kentucky Army Guard at the Bowling Green Armory. Beery is married to Sara Ann Beery and has a seven year old daughter.

Brock graduated high school in Indiana and attended some courses at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, KY.

During his time with the Indiana Army National Guard he performed a Sinai, Egypt deployment for one year. He also deployed with his unit in 2002 to 2003 for a rotation in Bosnia.

Army Staff Sgt. Brock A. Beery was killed in action on 03/23/06.