Army Pfc. Bryant J. Haynes

Remember Our Heroes

Army Pfc. Bryant J. Haynes, 21, of Epps, La.

Pfc. Haynes was assigned to the 199th Support Battalion, Louisiana National Guard, Alexandria, La.; died June 26, 2010 in Al Diwaniyah, Iraq, of injuries sustained during a vehicle rollover.

Pictures showed off interests
The Associated Press

Bryant “B.J.” Haynes didn’t write much on his MySpace profile. He let the pictures do the talking.

First on the list is his pit bull terrier, Flesh. Then come the photos of an athletic football player. In one, he’s nearly upside down as he takes a hard tackle “for the team,” as his caption puts it.

He’s among a sea of red jerseys walking out of a giant animal’s mouth onto the football field, “ready for whatever.”

“He was a very selfless player who loved his teammates and his school,” said John Carr, who coached Haynes at Ouachita Parish High School. Haynes had played for Carr as a wide receiver.

Haynes, 21, of Epps, La., was killed in a vehicle rollover June 26 in Al Diwaniyah, Iraq. He was based with the Army National Guard in Alexandria, La.

Haynes left his school and football team before graduating because he wanted to get his GED and serve in the military.

“He was a loving young man,” said his stepfather, Tony Collins. “He was caring and respectable.”

Haynes is survived by his mother and father, Linda Toney Collins and Fredrick Nichols; a fiancée, Lakeidra Taylor; and nine brothers and four sisters.

Army Pfc. Bryant J. Haynes was killed in action on 6/26/10.