The U.S. Department of Defense confirmed the death of a soldier from New Windsor, Illinois.
Spc. Bryant Luxmore, 25, was serving in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Panjwai, Afghanistan when he encountered enemy small-arms fire Sunday, June 10, 2012.
Spc. Luxmore died of a gunshot in the attack.
Luxmore was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Georgia. The unit deployed in March 2012.
The Savannah (Georgia) Morning News reported Spc. Luxmore was an infantryman who had been in the Army for 14 months. This was his first deployment. He was posthumously promoted to corporal, awarded the Bronze Star, Purple Heart and Combat Infantryman Badge.
Spc. Luxmore is survived by his wife and stepson.
Funeral arrangements were pending for Spc. Luxmore through Dennison Funeral Home in Viola. There was no word yet on when his body would arrive for funeral and burial services.
The funeral home posted this notice online:
The family request, that in lieu of flowers, memorials may be left to the Bryant J. Luxmore Memorial Fund. This fund will be dispersed to help several organizations in BJ's name. You may mail the memorial to: Dennison Funeral Home PO Box 194 Viola, IL 61486
Friends created a Facebook page asking the community to leave their porch lights on in memory of Spc. Luxmore. See that page at this link: http://www.facebook.com/ALightForBj