JOHN L. B BRINGHAM

  
Colonel JOHN L B BRINGHAM,  U.S. ARMY (Ret.)  
Colonel JOHN L B BRINGHAM, age 83, died in his home on Sunday, March 31, 2013 in Mt. Vernon, VA after a lengthy illness. John was born in Bath, NY on February 3, 1930, soon after moving to Santa Monica, CA where he spent his entire childhood. He attended UCLA for one year then entered the US Military Academy at West Point, where he graduated in 1953. He formed the closest friendships of his life while at West Point. He had a 27-year career with the Army as an Infantry Officer, during which time he was stationed in Germany, Nepal, the Philippines, and Italy, with two tours of duty in Vietnam. While in Vietnam, he met his wife, Jeannine Francoise "Fran", whom he has been married to for 48 years. His military career defined who John was. He enjoyed the many adventures the military brought him, and he was quite the story teller, with the ability to bring his adventures to life through his vivid storytelling. After his retirement from the military in 1980, he worked for several computer companies in the Washington, D.C. area whose primary function was military-based programming, finally retiring in 1993. Throughout his life, John loved traveling with friends and family, having had four sons and five grandchildren living throughout the US. John and Fran loved to travel all over the world but spent a great deal of time together in Corsica, France (Corsica being Fran's birthplace). Having grown up in Santa Monica at the beach, he enjoyed the sun, the swimming and the peaceful lifestyle he found in Corsica. West Point instilled in John the idea of Duty, Honor, Country and he truly lived those ideals. His kindness, his gentleness and his honesty will be missed by all who knew him. John is survived by his wife, Jeannine Francoise "Fran", his sons John Bringham (Mary Kay), James "Jim" Bringham, LTC Daniel Bringham (Lisa), and five Bringham grandchildren, Megan, Shannon, Rebecca, Jacob and Max. Relatives and friends may call at Jefferson Funeral Chapel, 5755 Castlewellan Dr. Alexandria, VA on Wednesday, April 3, 2013 from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. John will be interred at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.