AAMF

Lieutenant Colonel Frank Bryant Jr. was born in Knoxville, Tennessee. In 1991, he displayed his athletic talents as the Tennessee state champion in wrestling, but graduating that same year, he decided to wrestle the challenge of the U.S. Air Force Academy next. Lt Col Bryant wrestled throughout his Academy days, becoming the captain and most valuable player. His leadership didn’t stop there, as he served as his squadron commander in his last year at the Air Force Academy as well. After earning his Bachelor of Science in General Engineering, Lt Col Bryant entered pilot training, becoming a T-37 instructor pilot after earning his wings, but he continued to press and earned the honor of becoming an F-16 pilot. Lt Col Bryant earned 121 combat hours alone during Operation Iraqi Freedom, including a raid aimed at Saddam Hussein and his sons.

In 2011, Lt Col Bryant was serving as an Air Advisor for the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Afghanistan-Pakistan Hands Program in Kabul, Afghanistan. Sadly, on the morning of 27 April 2011, a helicopter pilot for the Afghan Air Force pulled a pistol from his flight suit and opened fire, resulting in Lt Col Bryant, seven other service members, and one civilian contractor being killed in the line of duty.

Lieutenant Colonel Frank Bryant Jr. was survived by his wife, Janice, his son, Sean, his father, Frank, his mother, Patricia, his sister, Amie, his brother-in-law, Bill, his brother, Raymond, his niece, Aubrey, and his large extended family of aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Thank you, sir.