Land, Brett Willie
Male
Verified Brett Willie Land, 24, of Wasco, California, was a U.S. Army corporal who died in Zhari District, Afghanistan, on October 30, 2010.
Their Story
Brett Willie Land was born in Wasco, California, a city in Kern County. He served as a corporal in Company C, 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, part of the 101st Airborne Division based at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.
According to U.S. Department of Defense casualty reports, Land was killed on October 30, 2010, in Zhari District, Kandahar province, Afghanistan. The official cause was listed as hostile action. Media reports from the time indicate his unit was engaged in clearing operations in the district, a known Taliban stronghold and the birthplace of the movement's founder.
Land's death occurred during Operation Enduring Freedom, the U.S.-led military campaign in Afghanistan that began in October 2001 following the September 11 attacks. By late 2010, the conflict was marked by a significant troop surge and intense fighting in southern provinces like Kandahar, aimed at disrupting insurgent networks.
The Army announced Land's death in a press release on November 1, 2010. He was survived by his mother, father, and siblings. His body was returned to the United States, and he was buried with military honors at the Wasco Memorial Park.
Land is memorialized on the Afghanistan War casualty rolls maintained by the Department of Defense and on local memorials in California. His name is inscribed on the Kern County Veterans Memorial in Bakersfield.
Explore Further
Brett Land was killed during Operation Enduring Freedom (2001–2014). The conflict concluded in December 2014. See the full roster of those killed in this conflict.
Among those documented in the same conflict: Andrews, Evander Earl, Edmunds, Jonn Joseph, Stonesifer, Kristofor Tif, Davis, Bryant Leroy.
