Sgt. Dale G. M. Brehm, 23, was a team leader assigned to 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Fort Lewis, Wash. He was wounded by enemy small arms fire while conducting combat operations in western Iraq on March 18 and died of those wounds on March 19, 2006. After graduating from Turlock High School in Turlock, Calif., Brehm volunteered for military service and entered the Army Feb. 15, 2001. He completed One Station Unit Training, airborne school and Ranger Indoctrination Program at Fort Benning, Ga.

Assigned to 2nd Ranger Bn. in October 2001, Brehm served as a rifleman and grenadier. Brehm was a six-time veteran of the Global War on Terrorism, deploying three times in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, and three times in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

His awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal for valor, the Army Commendation Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Army Achievement Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, the Army Service Ribbon, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Expert Infantryman Badge, the Parachutist Badge, the Jordanian Parachutist Wings and the Ranger Tab. He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal for Valor, Purple Heart and Army Commendation Medals with one Oak Leaf Cluster.

As a Ranger, Brehm selflessly lived his life for others and distinguished himself as a member of the Army’s premier direct action raid force, continuously deployed in support of the Global War on Terror, and fought valiantly as he served his fellow Rangers and our great Nation.

Brehm is survived by his wife, Raini, his mother and stepfather Laura & Ed Vawter, his father and stepmother, William, and Linda Brehm and his two brothers, Scott Williams and SPC Chad Williams.

Army Ranger Lead the Way Fund presented Dale’s family with a hand painted portrait of him, commissioned by the American Fallen Soldiers Project, at our annual Gold Star Memorial event.