ASADABAD, Afghanistan -- Lance Cpl. Billy Brixey Jr., 21, a 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, motor transportation mechanic from Vidalia, La., died Jan. 27 in Germany, two days after being seriously wounded in an insurgent attack on his convoy Jan. 25 in the often treacherous back country of Kunar Province in eastern Afghanistan.Brixey was stabilized at the scene before being airlifted from the battle site and transported to Camp Wright in Asadabad with wounds and multiple fractures to both legs, according to Navy Lt. Brandon Rodriguez, battalion physician, 1/3. Following surgery, Brixey was airlifted to Bagram Airfield for further care before being sent to Germany, where he passed away as a result of his wounds, noted Rodriguez. “It is a testament to his strength that he made it as long as he did,” said Rodriguez, a native of Lakeland, Fla., who assisted in the emergency surgery at Camp Wright. “He was tough. He was a fighter. I, along with all the Marines he served with, am deeply saddened at this tremendous loss.”Frost was subsequently wounded by an enemy small-arms round in the resulting firefight. No other Marines were wounded in the exchange. Casualty reports on the enemy insurgents were unable to be confirmed, noted Frost. “During the battle, Lance Corporal Brixey kept his head in the game the entire time,” said Frost, a native of Zeeland, Mich. “He was remarkably calm and held himself in a very courageous way.“Every Marine in the fight, every one of us, our concern was with Lance Corporal Brixey,” continued Frost. “It’s a crying shame that he died. We were all praying for him every day hoping that he’d make it. One thing I would like to say is that I can’t imagine a man handling the situation he was in with more honor and bravery than he exhibited. He died a hero. He is someone all Marines should look up to. I know I do. The courage he displayed was inspiring to me and all the Marines who were there.”“It was a quick and complete evolution from incident to retrieval to surgery,” said Chief Petty Officer Claude English, 1/3 enlisted senior medical department representative and New Orleans native with strong family ties to Groton, Conn., and Pensacola, Fla. “Most impressive by far, however, was the young Marine himself. Brixey was tough, brave and a true Marine throughout. I can’t say enough about him.” When news of Brixey’s death reached the Marines and Sailors in Afghanistan, a solemn cloud seemed to hang in the air. “The Brixeys raised a fine young man,” said Pfc. Arthur Reynolds Jr., a 1/3 field wireman and Quick Reaction Force team member from Attalla, Ala. “He was a great guy, and more than that, he was my friend. Lance Corporal Brixey always gave 110 percent in everything he did. He’d do somersaults for his Marines.“The insurgents are nothing but cowards,” added Reynolds, fighting back emotion upon receiving the news about Brixey. “A lot of them aren’t even Afghan. They come here from other countries and terrorize the local population and intimidate them through violence. Well, Marines can’t be intimidated. All the hurt and emotion we’re feeling about Lance Corporal Brixey, we’re just going to channel that energy and use it to get the cowards who did this, along with all the other insurgents who murder innocent locals for nothing more than wanting to be free.”Other Marines who served with Brixey spoke of him in the highest of terms. “Lance Corporal Brixey was my bunk mate in California on our predeployment training exercises in Bridgeport and Twentynine Palms,” said Staff Sgt. Donald Pastorcich, staff noncommissioned officer in charge for 1/3’s Deployed Unit Support Team. “He was a jokester who always had a smile on his face and who brought smiles to the faces of the other Marines when he was around them.”“But his sense of humor belied an inner strength and confidence that made him, even at his present rank, a leader of Marines,” continued Pastorcich, a native of Cleveland. “Whatever he did, he did it to the max. Whether he was playing basketball or football after a hard day’s work or attacking the mission he was given by his superiors, he always gave his best. It’s very surreal for me now that he’s gone. I will keep his memories with me as long as I live. I will never forget Lance Corporal Brixey – the type of man he was, the type of Marine he was, the type of person he was.”According to 1st Lt. Jeremy Clevenger, DUST officer-in-charge, news of Brixey’s death has hit his fellow Marines hard. “We are all mourning his loss right now,” said the Bradley, Ill., native, “but the best way to preserve his legacy is to continue with the mission that Lance Corporal Brixey set out to do. He believed in what he was doing, and he died so that others could live free. We’re proud of him and we’re going to continue the fight.” Capt. Ty Barger, 1/3 Headquarters and Support Company commander, spoke of Brixey in a similar vein.“Lance Corporal Brixey was a confident Marine and a strong-willed man,” said the Lincoln, Neb., native. “He was respected both professionally and personally equally by his peers, subordinates and superiors. I am proud to be able to say I served with him. Our deepest condolences go out to his family and loved ones back in Louisiana.”“All our thoughts and prayers are with Lance Corporal Brixey’s family,” added 1st Sgt. Gerard Calvin, 1/3 Charlie Company first sergeant.“I would ask all the 1/3 family members back home to join myself and all the Marines serving in Afghanistan in our prayers for the family of this fine young Marine who gave the ultimate sacrifice for his country. He will not be forgotten.”