Staff Sgt. Brandon F. Eggleston

RAEFORD - Army Staff Sgt. Brandon Forrest Eggleston, 29, of Raeford, died April 26, 2012, in Ghazni Province, Afghanistan, when his mobility platform struck an improvised explosive device during a patrol. He was assigned to Company B, 4th Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Fort Bragg, and was deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. This was Staff Sgt. Eggleston's third deployment in support of overseas contingency operations. He attended Western Carolina University and graduated in 2005 with a bachelor's degree in criminal justice. He enlisted in the Army in July 2006. Upon completion of basic training and advanced individual training, he attended the Special Forces Assessment and Selection Course. He completed the Special Forces Qualification Course in March 2009 and was assigned to 4th Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Fort Bragg as a Special Forces communications sergeant. His military education also includes the U.S. Army Airborne School, Advanced Leaders Course, Warrior Leaders Course, Combatives Course Level 1, Survival, Evasion and Resistance Course, the Special Forces Qualification Course and the Special Forces Advanced Urban Combat course. Eggleston's awards and decorations include the Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghan Campaign Medal with two campaign stars, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Non-commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon with numeral 2 device, Army Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, Parachutist Badge and the Special Forces tab. He will be posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Purple Heart, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with a third campaign star and the Combat Infantry Badge. Surviving Staff Sgt. Eggleston are his wife, Karen Reames Eggleston of Raeford; two daughters, Molly Eggleston and Avery Eggleston of Raeford; his mother, Alisa Moody and her husband Paul of Pearisburg, Va; a sister, Erica Eggleston of Pearisburg; and his grandparents, Roy and Vicky Eggleston of Eden. Visitation will be from 3 to 5 p.m. today, Sunday, May 6, 2012, at LaFayette Funeral Home, 6651 Raeford Road, Fayetteville. Funeral services will be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 8, 2012, at Rockfish Church, 9949 Fayetteville Road, Raeford, with Pastor Dan Stanley and Chaplain Maj. Jerry Waldrop officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Eggleston Memorial Fund c/o Tana Faircloth@ PNC Bank, 991 South McPherson Church Road, Fayetteville, NC 28303. Care of the family is entrusted to LaFayette Funeral Home, 6651 Raeford Road, Fayetteville. Online condolences may be made at lafayettefh.com.