DOB/DOD: January 7, 1975 (Waterbury, CT) – July 20, 2009; 34 years old
MARITAL STATUS: Married Michelle L. Bryant (1976-) on May 9, 2008 in Lawton, Oklahoma
CHILDREN: Two stepsons, Collin Kessler (-) and Caden Bryant (-). One daughter, Gabrielle Pratt (-).
LOCAL ADDRESS: Queen Terrace; Southington
ENLISTMENT: January 2008
MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY: 13D10; Field Artillery Automated Tactical Data Systems Specialist
UNIT: Headquarters & Headquarters Company, 4th Battalion, 25th Field Artillery Regiment (Strike); 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division; Fort Drum, New York
FAMILY: Born to Jim (-) and Lorraine “Lori” C. Derouin Pratt (1951-2003). One stepmother, Sinnamon Pratt (-). One brother, Jim (-). One sister, Leanna Pratt (-). One stepbrother, Kyle Hansen (-).
DECORATIONS: Awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with device, Global War on Terrorism (Service), Army Overseas Ribbon, NATO ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) Medal – Afghanistan, Combat Action Badge, Rifle Marksman Expert badge, and the Meritorious Unit Commendation.
CIRCUMSTANCES: Specialist Pratt was killed by wounds sustained when an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) detonated near his vehicle, followed by an attack from enemy forces using small arms and rocket-propelled grenades. Also killed in this incident:
Army Sergeant Gregory Owens Jr.; Garland, TX
Army Specialist Anthony M. Lightfoot; Riverdale, GA
Army Specialist Andrew J. Roughton; Houston, TX
Southington High School; Connecticut Class of 1994. Also selected for the school’s “Wall of Honor” in 2012.
From SwokNews.com on August 1, 2009
By Mitch Meador
FRIENDS, FAMILY SALUTE SLAIN DUNCAN SOLDIER
The 34-year-old soldier from Duncan was posthumously promoted from private first class to specialist by Brigadier General Jeff Buchanan, deputy commanding general for the 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, New York, at a funeral service on Fort Sill. Buchanan said the promotion was “based on his performance and what his fellow soldiers thought of him.” “He was exceptionally dedicated to his country, to the unit, and to getting the job done,” the general said. As a soldier, he was “devoted to taking care of his buddies. He was a quiet professional as well.” Buchanan assured Pratt’s wife and three children that they “were always a topic of conversation with him and his buddies. He was always talking about his family and his plans for his family.” Buchanan also awarded Pratt the Bronze Star for heroism and service in combat to Task Force Spartan and Combined Joint Task Force 82, the Purple Heart for the wounds he received on the day he died, and the Good Conduct Medal “for exemplary behavior, efficiency, and fidelity.” Buchanan presented the papers for his promotion and the citations for the awards to Pratt’s wife, Michelle, and his father, Jim. Pratt was one of four soldiers who died July 20 in Wardak Province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device blew up near their vehicle, followed by an attack from enemy forces using small arms and rocket-propelled grenade fires. The others were Sergeant Gregory Owens Jr., 24, of Garland, Texas; Specialist Andrew J. Roughton, 21, of Houston; and Specialist Anthony M. Lightfoot, 20, of Riverdale, Ga. They were assigned to the 4th Battalion, 25th Field Artillery (STRIKE), 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum, N.Y. “You can’t say one thing about one of them without saying the same thing about all of them. They were just that type of guy,” said Sergeant 1st Class Kendrick Bradford, who delivered the eulogy at Pratt’s funeral. The others called Pratt “Pop” because he was the oldest of all of them, and he watched over all of them, Bradford said. Buchanan said it was also because he would sit and listen to them and give them advice from time to time. Bradford said Pratt told the others the right thing to do to get kudos from the noncommissioned officers, and he “could always say something to put a smile on your face.” “As Specialist Pratt looks down from heaven, I look up to him to continue to guide us with strength and protectiveness. … We’ll finish what we start because that’s what he would have wanted,” Bradford said. Chaplain Captain Namen Bouma of Duncan said what he had learned was that Pratt was “light-hearted (and) enjoyed having a good time, and second, he enjoyed being in the Army.” He was a fan of hard rock music, but while living in Texas, he started listening to “some” country. “Dennis Pratt walked uprightly, and he did his duty,” Buchanan said. “He joined his Army when the country needed him, and he certainly didn’t have to. He served everyone in this room … and he served the people of Afghanistan, too. … “He was led by values. Jim, Dennis didn’t get those values from the Army. He got them from his family. “Michelle, I want to thank you for sharing him with us because Dennis made a difference. … Selfless service means putting the needs of others before your own. That’s exactly how he lived his life. … He volunteered to take extra guard shifts from time to time. He helped his buddies out,” Buchanan said. “He didn’t lose his life. He gave his life. It’s a big difference in how you approach things,” the general said. Pratt was born January 7, 1975, in Waterbury, Connecticut, to Jim and Lori Pratt. He graduated from high school in Southington, Connecticut, where he grew up. After graduation, he moved to Arizona, Duncan, and then Texas, where he joined the Army. He married the former Michelle Bryant of Chickasha on May 9, 2008, in Lawton. He completed basic training at Fort Sill and was then stationed at Fort Drum. He deployed to Afghanistan on January 6, 2009. He was preceded in death by his mother, Lori. He is survived by his wife, Michelle; three children, Collin Kessler, Gabrielle Pratt, and Caden Bryant, all of the home; parents, Jim and Sinnamon Pratt; mother and father-in-law, Fred and Margaret Bryant; two brothers, Jim Pratt and wife Staci and their children, Miranda, D.J. and Morgan; and Kyle Hansen and wife Nicole and their daughter Calista; a stepsister, Leanna Pratt; and many other relatives and friends.
From FindAGrave.com
Specialist Pratt was assigned to the 4th Battalion, 25th Field Artillery (Strike), 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum, New York. He died of wounds sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle, followed by an attack from enemy forces using small arms and rocket-propelled grenades. A shell hit in front of the Humvee he was driving, another hit behind him, and with nowhere to go, the third shell hit the vehicle and tore it in two. Dennis graduated from high school in Southington, Connecticut. After graduation, he moved to Arizona, Duncan, and then to Texas. He was never able to find a career that he was interested in, so in January 2008, he joined the Army. It turned out to be what he was looking for all along – he loved it and was going to make a career out of the military. At the age of 34, Dennis was quite a bit older than the others in boot camp. He was called Pop, Pops, or Old Man but was looked up to as the man who lived, slept, and breathed the Army. While training for mountain artillery, it turned out that he could sight in howitzers better than his sergeants. On January 6, 2009, he was deployed to Afghanistan as a field artillery automated tactical data systems specialist and re-enlisted while there. He wanted to become a military police officer. His awards and decorations include the National Defense Service Medal and Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Campaign Star. Dennis was a family-oriented, fun-loving man with a goofy smile and striking blue eyes. He was only two days shy of coming home to see his wife, Michelle, and three children when he was killed. Dennis called his wife before going out on a mission and told her, “Baby, I’m packed; I’m ready to go, ready to come home. I’ll be leaving on Wednesday. I can’t wait.” It was the last time she heard from him. Dennis wasn’t supposed to be placed in harm’s way that close to R&R, but knowing Dennis, his family feels he would have volunteered to help anytime and anyway he could.
From Legacy.com
We first met Dennis at our son Jason’s house. Dennis and Jason were friends from the start when Jason and Melissa moved to Arizona. We would see Dennis many times at Jason’s when we visited there. Dennis was always there to help with whatever was needed. He had an enthusiastic work ethic that was exemplary; I’m sure his superiors in the Army recognized this trait in Dennis from the start. It was clear that he put 100% into everything that he attempted.
Dennis had an enormous appetite. He loved food. My wife, Carol, enjoyed cooking Italian specialties for him. Dennis’s favorite was Eggplant Parmigiano. In May 2009, we mailed a box of goodies to Dennis; he conveyed his appreciation to us for the package, and we were pleased that we made his time in Afghanistan a little lighter.
Sadly, we were jolted when our son called us on July 24th to announce Dennis’s death. My wife is particularly heartbroken…he was such a fine young man. We will miss his smile, his conversation, and his love of life. We know he was proud of his Army career; he was doing what he enjoyed. We will always keep Dennis in our hearts.
— Ray and Carol Patrone
In the few times I had the pleasure of talking with Dennis, he struck me as a genuinely great man through and through. His heart was full of joy as he expressed love for his family and friends. His dedication was unwavering, as was his passion for reaching upwards and onwards to a better life for himself and his family. His chosen purpose in life was a rare but wonderful one, being dedicated to enriching the lives of others, whether by defending our freedom or bringing a ray of sunshine to everyone’s day he came in contact with. Wherever he is, up in heaven, I believe he still has that grin which brings a smile to anyone’s face. He was a ray of sunshine wherever he was then, and I believe he is a ray of sunshine wherever he is now.
— Ross Smith
PFC Pratt, I thought you were a pretty weird dude on my first day at basic training. But over those ten weeks, we became friends. You helped me a lot in basic, keeping me strong to power through. I was in Trashcanistan at the same time you were. I talked to Lightfoot at my barracks when he was headed home on leave. He told me you were doing all right, and I asked him to say hi to you for me. I miss you bud.
— Unsigned
Memorialized on the 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team Memorial, 10th Mountain Division Drive north of South Riva Ridge Loop, Fort Drum, New York.
Specialist Pratt is buried in Fort Sill National Cemetery, 2648 NE Jake Dunn Road, Elgin, Oklahoma; Section 3, Site 866.
