BRIAN R.S.J. DEFORGE, 1LT, USMC
Brian R.S.J. Deforge '03
Lucky Bag
From the 2003 Lucky Bag:
Brian Robert St. Jacques Deforge
Plattsburgh, New York
Fatty, Fatty JG, Rhino, Li'l Manny, Plebe year hell with Big Red, learning from MP and HH, plebe summer melon sniffing incident, sucking weight for sprint never again 165! CMOD nightmare plebe summer, YPs and drunk in NYC, Times Square, Youngster year parties with JV, WV Mascot, All night talks back trashed youngster year w/JV and talking about poop for 4 years, the leg disease/fungus that wouldn't die, spandex in uniform, The Cyst, a season of rugby with Lt. Dan and the boys, EE major kicking my ass, Emag (EE/Physics Erection) torture and proud of my D, can't believe I made it through 4 years of that, JV and NS introducing me to Jane, St. Mary's Women's lax, great parties, block party, the Green Door, Sunday mornings w/Jane and many more to come I love you always, touch and gos all 2/C year and no sleep, miles on my car, Army/Navy beer pong, FMF w/ ES, DO, rooming with MP and best ever HALO players, smartest dumb kid anyone knew, to many parties with little recollection, leatherneck suck, harrier ride, cursed forever to go Corps, fights with RC and old man strength, sloppy DE shoulda gone Corps, tailgating, destined for asst. ops, spring break Vegas and Sac skiing RC and MP, flying in the blood, 27th USMC Marathon. Mom, John, Dad, Carolyn-I owe you a lifetime of gratitude.
Brian Robert St. Jacques Deforge
Plattsburgh, New York
Fatty, Fatty JG, Rhino, Li'l Manny, Plebe year hell with Big Red, learning from MP and HH, plebe summer melon sniffing incident, sucking weight for sprint never again 165! CMOD nightmare plebe summer, YPs and drunk in NYC, Times Square, Youngster year parties with JV, WV Mascot, All night talks back trashed youngster year w/JV and talking about poop for 4 years, the leg disease/fungus that wouldn't die, spandex in uniform, The Cyst, a season of rugby with Lt. Dan and the boys, EE major kicking my ass, Emag (EE/Physics Erection) torture and proud of my D, can't believe I made it through 4 years of that, JV and NS introducing me to Jane, St. Mary's Women's lax, great parties, block party, the Green Door, Sunday mornings w/Jane and many more to come I love you always, touch and gos all 2/C year and no sleep, miles on my car, Army/Navy beer pong, FMF w/ ES, DO, rooming with MP and best ever HALO players, smartest dumb kid anyone knew, to many parties with little recollection, leatherneck suck, harrier ride, cursed forever to go Corps, fights with RC and old man strength, sloppy DE shoulda gone Corps, tailgating, destined for asst. ops, spring break Vegas and Sac skiing RC and MP, flying in the blood, 27th USMC Marathon. Mom, John, Dad, Carolyn-I owe you a lifetime of gratitude.
Loss
Brian was lost on June 26, 2006 when the F/A-18C Hornet he was piloting collided with another over Monterey County, California. He was a member of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 125.
Other Information
From Ancestry.com on July 4, 2006:
PLATTSBURGH, NY — 1st Lieutenant Brian Robert St. Jacques Deforge, USMC, formerly of Plattsburgh, N.Y., and currently a resident of NAS Lemoore, Calif., died on Monday, June 26, 2006, as a result of a midair jet airplane collision.
Brian was a 1999 graduate of Beekmantown High School. He was a high honor student and a standout athlete. Upon graduation from high school, Brian entered the United States Naval Academy with the Class of 2003. Brian earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering and a commission in the United States Marine Corps.
Brian was a driven young man who set goals and did whatever it took to achieve them. He was a kind human being who considered all others his equal, regardless of their rank or social status. He was a devoted son, brother, cousin, nephew, grandson, husband and father. While at the Naval Academy, Brian met and courted his bride, the former Jane Romano. They were married on Kent Island in Maryland in June of 2003. Brian always dreamed of being a jet pilot, and upon graduation from Annapolis, his dream was fulfilled when he was selected for Marine Corps aviation. Together, Brian and Jane embarked on an adventure in Marine Corps ground and aviation training that took them to Virginia, Florida, Texas and California. Brian excelled as a student pilot and during training in the T-45A Goshawk, he earned the coveted Top Hook Award aboard the USS John F. Kennedy. Upon completion of Primary Flight training, Brian earned his dream selection; he would go on to train in the fighter jet, F-18 Hornet in Strike Fighter Squadron 125. Brian was an excellent student and he truly loved to fly.
Brian is survived by his wife, Jane; their children, Brian Jr. and Alison; his mother and step-father, John and Patience Landry; his father and step-mother, Robert D. and Carolyn Deforge; his brothers, Aaron, Ryan, Brad, Robby and Zach; his maternal grandmother, Anna St. Jacques; his paternal grandfather, Robert P. Deforge; and many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.
From The Californian of Salinas, CA, on June 28, 2006:
Brian Deforge, 25, was flying an F/A-18C Hornet jet when he collided with another jet at 11:15 a.m. in the skies above Monterey County.
The Navy described the crash as a “mishap” in a release Tuesday.
Navy spokesman Dennis McGrath confirmed the planes collided with each other while practicing air-to-air combat maneuvers, but said it was not a head-on collision. McGrath said the pilots were on their way back to Lemoore Naval Air Station, about 30 miles south of Fresno, when the accident occurred. Four jets were flying at the fort Monday.
He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
Photographs
Brian with his wife, Jane, on June 7, 2003; photo via the Record-Observer of Easton, Maryland.
Memorial Hall Error
Brian is listed as a member of the United States Marine Corps Reserve in Memorial Hall. While he was likely commissioned into the USMCR, the 2005 National Defense Authorization Act directed the Marine Corps to move all officers to the "regular" USMC by May 1, 2006.
Brian is one of 2 members of the Class of 2003 on Virtual Memorial Hall.
The "category" links below lead to lists of related Honorees; use them to explore further the service and sacrifice of alumni in Memorial Hall.
