Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 Bradley J. Gaudet

Remember Our Heroes

Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 Bradley J. Gaudet, 31, of Gladewater, Texas

CWO2 Gaudet was assigned to 1st Battalion, 10th Aviation Regiment, 10th Combat Aviation Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y.; died June 5, 2011 in Khost province, Afghanistan, of injuries suffered as the result of an OH-58D helicopter crash. Also killed was Chief Warrant Officer 3 Kenneth R. White.

CWO Gaudet, stepson of City Councilman Scott Owens, joined the Army in 2004 and went to flight school in 2006. He arrived at Fort Drum in October 2007. He had previously deployed twice to Iraq. He deployed to Afghanistan October last year.

CWO Gaudet's family said he died doing what he loved, that all he ever wanted to do was fly. Mother, Rhonda Owens, said, "Brad believed in God and Country. Brad totally believed in what he was doing there. He was a dedicated soldier, who believed that he was fighting for the freedoms of all people. What I'll miss most about my son is the encouragement he gave me and his love for family."

"He was one of those people that just lived up to all he could be. He literally was the army's motto," said mother, Rhonda. "He was very outgoing very aggressive at anything he did he gave 110% to everything that he did."

"I also had a love of flying. When I was six months pregnant with Brad I went up in a helicopter. That was his first chopper ride," Owens said.

"I had to put him in God's hands and it was his will not to return this time and that's something I'm going to have to learn to deal with day by day," said Rhonda.

CWO returned home last month for his second daughter's birth and went back to Afghanistan a few days later to finish his tour.

"I think we're just still in shock and I still haven't gotten to the reality that he's really gone," said wife, Ginny.

CWO Gaudet's awards and decorations include:

Air Medal
Army Achievement Medal
Meritorious Unit Commendation
Army Good Conduct Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Iraq Campaign Medals
Afghanistan Campaign Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Army Service Ribbon
Overseas Service Ribbon
Army Aviator Badge
Combat Action Badge

A memorial service For CWO Gaudet was held in New York held 5 pm yesterday, June 15, at St Joseph of the Worker Church in LIverpool. A motorcade including NY state police, county sheriff's dept, city of Syracuse and Liverpool police, along with the Partriot Guard.

CWO Gaudet is survived by his mother and stepfather, Rhonda and Scott; his wife, Ginny and two daughters, Tealy and Addyson.

Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 Bradley J. Gaudet was killed in action on 6/5/11.