Army Sgt. Bret D. Isenhower

Remember Our Heroes

Army Sgt. Bret D. Isenhower, 26, of Lamar, Okla.

Sgt Isenhower was assigned to 1st Battalion, 279 Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Oklahoma National Guard, Tulsa, Okla.; died Sept. 9, 2011 in Paktya, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with small-arms fire. Also killed were Sgt. Christopher D. Horton and Pfc. Tony J. Potter Jr.

Sgt. Bret D. Isenhower, was born January 30, 1985 in Shawnee, OK. He graduated from Seminole High School in 2003; he moved on to attend East Central University, and a member of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity. He worked as a volunteer Firefighter at Seminole Fire Department and at the Seminole County 911 Dispatch center. Bret is a member of the 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Oklahoma Army National Guard. He served in Iraq in 2007 and 2008 during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Bret’s journey on earth ended on September 9, 2011 serving our country in eastern Afghanistan. This was his second tour of duty. Bret paid the ultimate sacrifice while defending our country. He was a loving, kind and generous man who touched the lives of everyone he met. Bret was a powerful role model to the many children in his life because of the care and attention he showed them. He had an infectious smile that will never be forgotten.

Bret was survived by his parents Janet Dawsey and Kevin Isenhower; two sisters, Bridgette Hall and her husband Ryan and Krysten Isenhower; one nephew, Jackson Hall; three grandparents, Rheta Jo McNary, Joy Isenhower and Phil Isenhower; an aunt, uncle and cousins, along with a multitude of friends. He was preceded in death by his grandfather Raymond McNary.

Isenhower joined the Oklahoma National Guard in 2006, three years after he graduated from Seminole High School, according to a release. He was promoted to sergeant in March and was a fire team leader.

His hometown, Lamar, is 30 miles east of Seminole and 40 miles south of Henryetta.

Isenhower was deployed in Iraq in 2007. His most recent deployment was his second.

Before he enlisted in the Oklahoma Guard in 2008, Horton graduated from the Missouri Military Academy. He was trained to be an infantrymen and was sniper qualified, according to the release. This was his first deployment.

Army Sgt. Bret D. Isenhower was killed in action on 9/9/11.