Brandon S. Hocking

Army Cpl. Brandon S. Hocking, age 24, died on March 21, 2011, in the southern Iraq city of As Samawah, when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.  

Brandon was assigned to 87th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 3rd Sustainment Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga.  He was from Seattle, Washington.

Michael,
Archangel,
pray for
Brandon

Cpl. Hocking was a small-arms repair specialist and also served as a convoy gunner. He died just 10 days before his scheduled return home.

He posthumously received a Purple Heart and also the Bronze Star, which is awarded for acts of combat heroism.  Cpl. Hocking was on his second tour of duty in Iraq.  Cpl. Hocking first joined the Army in November 2005.

Cpl. Hocking was the eldest of six children and attended Federal Way and Decatur high schools. He enjoyed fixing up old cars, sketching and playing the acoustic and electric guitar.  Friends and family said Cpl. Hocking joined the military after high school in an effort to improve his life.

He is survived by numerous loving family members including his parents, Christine Dansereau, of Pomeroy, Garfield County, and Kevin Hocking, of Burien. Other survivors include Brandon's wife, Havalah Hocking, of Seattle, a 4-year-old son, Sebastian Hocking, and a 3-year-old daughter, Gwen.  He is also survived by sisters Britney Hocking, of Tacoma; Brooke Hocking, of Kent; Brielle Hocking and Gracie Dansereau, of Pomeroy. His surviving grandparents are Myrna Hocking, of Bigfork, Mont., and Gary Pitts, of Lake Tapps.

Let us pray to God the Father, Jesus, all of the saints and all of the angels that Brandon Hocking is in heaven. Let us pray that he is at peace and is with God. Amen