Jared Robert Brissette – Sergeant, United States Army

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21 December 2007:

CAPE CORAL, Florida – Jared Brissette had earned a promotion to sergeant in the Army, but wasn’t expected to live long enough for the ceremony.

So the Army came to his parents’ home in Cape Coral, Florida to promote the paratrooper in his bed.

Brissette is dying of brain cancer. Army commanders from Fort Bragg, North Carolina, visited Brissette Thursday to promote him and present the new medals he earned this year.

Doctors say the 22-year-old likely has only days to live.

Brissette decided to enlist after the September 11th terrorist attacks. He was deployed to Afghanistan with the 82nd Airborne Division in 2005.

He married his high school sweetheart after returning home. He had been training for a deployment to Iraq when he was diagnosed with cancer in January.

The Southwest Florida soldier who recently lost his battle with brain cancer was remembered fondly Friday as friends and family gathered at his funeral to say goodbye.

Army Sergeant Jared Brissette, 22, served two tours of duty in Afghanistan and Iraq with the 82nd Airborne Division.

He survived the wars, but died on December 22, 2007, after fighting brain cancer for several months.

Due to his professionalism and accomplishments, the Army promoted Brissette to Sergeant just days before his death in an emotional bed side ceremony.

“I really want to thank all the people. It just showed their gratitude and we appreciate everything they did for us. It’s nice to know that there are people out there that really care,” said Linda Reid, who is Sergeant Brissette’s godmother.

Brissette’s funeral was held Friday morning at 10 a.m. at the Vineyard Community Church in Cape Coral.

It gave friends and family a chance to remember this hero.

“The ceremony was beautiful, very sweet. Jared was a wonderful boy. He lived life to the fullest,” said Reid.

Some of his fellow soldier also made the trip to honor Brissette.

“Over in Iraq we all wished that he was there and I know that he really wanted to be there with us. He would have been a great addition. We really need people like him,” said Chharith Ouen, who served in the Army with Brissette.

His body will be laid to rest next Friday at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors. Family members say it was his final wish.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Jared Brissette’s loving memory may be made to Hope Hospice, 2430 Diplomat Pkwy. E., Cape Coral, Florida 33909 or the Moffitt Cancer Center C/O Sarcoma unit in Tampa.

A Southwest Florida solider fought the biggest battle of his life and lost. Brain cancer cut Sergeant Jared Brissette’s life short.

Thursday, friends and family paid their respects to 22-year-old Brissette, a sergeant in the U.S. Army, who served two tours of duty in Afghanistan and Iraq.

He survived the war, but lost his battle with brain cancer December 22.

“I didn’t accept it. Even just recently I just looked at him inside the casket and I’m like, ‘That’s not even him,'” said friend Sergeant Chharith Oeun. “It’s an honor for me to be here. So many people have gone out of their way to make it happen.”

Oeun boarded numerous planes, traveling for about four days to Southwest Florida to say goodbye to his friend Brissette – someone he says he looks up to and admires.

“He went down for Malaria and he just came right back from it. He didn’t even complain. He put his body armor on, picked up his weapon, and started hiking the mountains of Afghanistan like it was nothing,” said Oeun.

“He was everybody’s favorite. Honest to God, everybody loved Jared,” said Brissette’s Godmother Linda Reid.

Brissette called Reid his fairy-godmother for taking such good care of him during his final days. Thursday, she even got a tattoo in honor of him.

“I love him and I’ll miss him, but he’ll always be in my heart and he’ll always be on my back,” said Reid.

Brissette’s funeral will be held Friday morning at 10 a.m. at the Vineyard Community Church in Cape Coral.

His body will be laid to rest next Friday at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Jared Brissette’s loving memory may be made to Hope Hospice, 2430 Diplomat Pkwy. E., Cape Coral, Florida 33909 or the Moffitt Cancer Center C/O Sarcoma unit in Tampa.

11 January 2008:

It’s a story that touched so many of you. The Cape Coral soldier who lost his battle with a rare brain cancer.

Jared Brissette was promoted in a bedside ceremony just days before he died. WINK News also talked to the paratroopers’ family after his funeral in Cape Coral.

WINK News sat down with the Brissette’s days after the 22-year-old was buried at Arlington National Ceremony.

“I think it’s when they handed me the flag, because that is what I have left of him,” says a tearful Elanor Brissette.

The 21-year-old was handed that flag one week ago in Arlington National Cemetery. Her husband, solider Jared Brissette, laid to rest after a battle with brain cancer.

“He was half my life, practically my whole life. Half of me and to know my husband is there is the most honoring thing,” she says.

By Elanor’s side, her Mother-in-law Julie.

“I was just happy cause I knew he was happy,” Julie says.

She says seeing the ceremony, with the casket, the flag draped across and Jared’s fellow soldiers made it finally real.

“It was like, it was really happening at that point. I thought it was just a dream,” she says.

It was Jared’s dream to end up in Arlington. Even though Virginia is so far from Florida, they say Jared is really not far at all.

“I have a sense of emptiness and loneliness. He’s in my heart and will always be,” says Elanor.

“He’s here with me and he will always be here with me,” says his Mother Julie.

BRISSETTE, JARED ROBERT
SGT   US ARMY

  • DATE OF BIRTH: 07/22/1985
  • DATE OF DEATH: 12/22/2007
  • BURIED AT: SECTION 54  SITE 945
    ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY

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