Capt. Brian R. Faunce
28, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Died Sept. 18, 2003 in Asad, Iraq
Assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company,
3rd Brigade Combat Team, Fort Carson, Colo.

 A consumate soldier and born leader, who always put his soldiers safety first. Promoted to company command on June 1, 2003 of B CO. 1-12 infantry, 3rd Brigade, 4th ID.

Captain Founce  was electrocuted by coming in contact with a high voltage line. He was pursuing a group of young men discovered attempting to remove a machine gun from a disabled Iraqi armored vehicle. They fled. He ordered his gunner to fire over their heads. They hit the ground, jumped up and fled again. He ordered the gunner to fire over their heads again. Again they hit the ground, jumped up and ran. They crossed railroad tracks into a wooded area. Brian pursued them in the Bradley. As the Bradley went over the raised railroad tracks and see-sawed down the other side, there was a low hanging high voltage line there hidden in the foliage.

Captain Founce was the only one exposed from the turret, having ordered his men to get inside the vehicle earlier. His last words were "Oh shit" as he reached out with his rifle in his right hand to ward off the wire. His left hand was on the turret. The rifle barrel came in contact with the wire, completing a circuit down the rifle barrel, through Brian, into the Bradley turret and into the ground. 

- Richard Faunce, father of Brian Faunce