OT: Remember Mikayla Bragg Kittara's close friend.

Over the last month I've been dealing with the death of Mikayla Bragg. She was 21 and shot and killed in Afganastan Dec. 21st. I was her neighbor and lived in the same duplex complex as her family and she did for the last 7 yrs.

She was to be discharged from the Army January 6th, 2012. Today is her funeral with full military honors in Renton, WA. She lived in Longview, WA, where I live. We live about 40 miles north of Portland, OR. The Longview memorial service was Thursday and it was standing room only at the service. I was overwelmed by the turn out. That's when the reporter tracked me down after I spoke of her personal side.

You can read more at: www.tdn.com I will be interviewed next week for a final story about her wonderful personality and how she was before she entered the Army.

Kittara (Anna)

» Edited on: 2012-01-07 14:42:25

» Edited on: 2012-01-07 14:48:44

Thoughts and prayers are with you.:( I'm sorry.

I'm so very sorry for your loss. I'm sure you will always carry a special memory of her in your heart.

Very sorry to hear that Kitt. My prayers and thoughts go out to you and her family. What a tragic thing to happen.

Truly a sad thing to have happened. I know you will do well in the interviews so others know what you know of her. Hold on to all those good memories. ::hugs::

Oh my, I didn't know that the TV news was there as well on Thursday. It just played on TV.

i'm very sorry for your loss. my thoughts and prayers will be with you and for her family. with deepest sympathy, Ahava (aka Malle)

so sorry, but u have known a hero, so sorry

Its hard to lose a friend to the war, I lost several during Vietnam. I am very sorry for your lose and for her family to bear the lose also. My prayers with you and her family.

Kit, I can't speak for everyone, but when I signed up I meant everything I said, even knowing what I was signing up for could mean my literal death. I know TV and recruitment ads can glorify it at times as some sort of "college fund," but yeah anyone in knows it's not. All the more those who have served over the last what, 20 yrs now? and her only being 21? she knew for sure and chose to die for her country if it was to be so, for us, and in defense of others, if it was necessary. And in her case, it was so. :( It's such a shame her death was some how deemed "necessary" for "us, or the defense of others" but it was. It's a shame too because we live in the world we live in, but it's not something to feel shame for to anyone that knew her. Those that knew her should be so proud AND humbled, as should the rest of us really, that here was some young girl willing to serve, and do it knowing it knowing death was a real possibility. I bow my head to Mikayla Bragg, for her courage and dedication and undeniable love for her family, friends and country. I hope we can all be so devoted, yet pray no one ever again has to be. .. and Kit *hugs .. it's always "us" that hurt.. not them.. <3

I want to thank everyone for your thoughtful posts. I've shown them to my daughter and she says thank you. Means a lot to all of us. Kittara

I am former military and my husband is a disabled vet. We know what it is like to lose someone close to you. Our thoughts are with you.

Kitt, I am sorry for your/our loss. I will keep you all in my prayers. I too have lost friends over the years from the wars, starting when we were in Desert Storm. While time does help heal, the sadness always seems to remain. Peace be to you, Robb

I'm sorry for the loss of someone so young. My thoughts and prayers to you, her family and all those whose lives were touched by her.