This website is a memorial to the life of US Army Spc. Johnathan Bryan Chism 22, of Gonzales, Louisiana,

Bryan was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 377th Parachute Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division (Airborne), Fort Richardson, Alaska.

Bryan gave his life for all of us on Jan. 20, 2007 in Karbala, Iraq, from wounds sustained when his patrol was ambushed while conducting dismounted operations.

"I'm not normally a praying man, but if you're up there, please save me, Superman!"
- Homer Simpson

There are about 2,000,000 service members on active duty in the United States Armed Forces... All the Airborne units added together make about 20,000 Paratroopers... you do the math...

"Live life fully while you're here. Experience everything. Take care of yourself and your friends. Have fun, be crazy, be weird. Go out and screw up! You're going to anyway, so you might as well enjoy the process.

Take the opportunity to learn from your mistakes: find the cause of your problem and eliminate it. Don't try to be perfect; just be an excellent example of being human..."
- Anthony Robbins

When we really begin to live in the world, then we understand what is meant by brotherhood, and not before...

Bryan (second from left) along with 4 more of America's bravest...

"I'm in Iraq and it blows... I hate it here, but if I don't fight then who will..."
- Bryan Chism

Bryan, in his own words, shows he had the "Heart of a Tiger"

When you Jump, it's all you...
- Airborne Proverb

"I desire so to conduct the affairs of this administration that if at the end, when I come to lay down the reins of power, I have lost every other friend on earth, I shall at least have one friend left, and that friend shall be down inside me..."
- Abraham Lincoln

"Nobody that's 100% sane jumps out of a perfectly good airplane, so you all must be a little bit crazy... welcome to the club..."
- U.S. Army Airborne School Instructor, 1984 (in a conversation with the webmaster of this site)

The 25th Infantry Division unit patch with Airborne Tab

Bryan, Roy, and Steve-O

"A soldier will fight long and hard for a bit of colored ribbon..."
- Napoleon

"I'm not here to find a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow... I'm just here to ride the rainbow..."
- David Lee Roth, 1981

Bryan and Steve-O

"I don't care how poor a man is; if he has family, he's rich..."
- Dan Wilcox and Thad Mumford, "Identity Crisis," M*A*S*H

It is not flesh and blood but the heart which us children, siblings, and moms...

The family is a haven in a heartless world...

Bryan, his mom Elizabeth, and sister Julie... just being their crazy selves

When things get tough, don't move. People and pressures shift but the sail remains the same no matter where you go...

Bryan's sister, Julie, on Bryan's favorite toy - his GSX-R...

Before you get a tattoo, make sure you've got an arm worth putting it on...
- Webmaster

One of Bryan's friends displays a tattoo that honors Bryan's sacrifice

Dogs have Owners, Cats have Staff...

Bryan and his cat, Gixxer

The strength and courage to serve is a trait that runs in the Chism family. Bryan's sister, Julie, served in the US Army from 6/4/02 ~ 6/8/08 as a 27 Delta (Paralegal). Julie attended Basic and AIT training at Fort Jackson, SC and then served in Germany for 2 years (Darmstadt and Darmstadt).

Julie then spent some time at Fort Hood, TX and was deployed to Iraq with 21 CSH for 9 months. She returned home after Bryan's passing... Thanks for your service Julie, you are a brave and courageous young lady...
- Webmaster

Julie's strength, patience, and inspiration were the creative force behind this tribute - Webmaster

"He has honor if he holds himself to an ideal of conduct though it is inconvenient, unprofitable, or dangerous to do so..."

Since the Revolutionary War, soldiers have dedicated their lives to protecting and maintaining the pride in the U.S., and they are very important to us. We must remember that, although many soldiers did not make it through war, they are veterans, nonetheless. They deserve to be honored as much as anyone who survived.

There is not enough stone in the world to commemorate their sacrifices; not enough emotion in the world to feel what they felt, as many of them saw their human brethren give the ultimate sacrifice - their lives....

- taken from "Soldiers - Past and Present" an essay by Christopher Vincent - Milltown, NJ

Thank you for visiting the Bryan Chism Website

God Bless You

Gold Star Family Support Group
Hearts of America, Care Packages for Military
Moms of Military - Prayer and Support Group
The Fallen Heroes Memorial website
The Military Times "Faces of Valor" website (List of US Casualties)
Patriot Guard Riders website
CNN iwatch - Support to Troops
Operation Iraqi Freedom
War in Afghanistan 2001 - Present