CPL Bryant J. (B.J.) Luxmore, 25, of New Windsor, Illinois, was killed in action in Panjwai, Afghanistan on June 10, 2012 of injuries suffered when he encountered enemy, small arms fire.

B.J. was born on November 3, 1986.  He grew up in New Windsor, Illinois with his parents, Brenda and Leonard Luxmore, his brother & best friend, Brock.  B.J. was a hometown boy and loved the small community he came from.  He was an avid athlete and student.  He graduated from Sherrard High School in 2005 where he was an excellent athlete in football and baseball.  He continued his baseball career at the collegiate level at Monmouth College and Illinois College where he graduated in 2009.

B.J. entered the U.S. Army in April 2011 as an infantryman and was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division.  He honored his parents wishes for him to receive his BA and then pursued his passion to enlist. 

He married Jaimie Lower on October 8, 2011 and relocated to Fort Stewart, GA to begin their life together with their son, Lane.  He was so happy, so complete as he loved his wife and son and their future together.  He was very family-oriented and enjoyed spending any free time he had at home teaching Lane to play baseball!

B.J. deployed to Afghanistan in March of 2012.  He was posthumously promoted to Corporal, awarded the Bronze Star, Purple Heart and Combat Infantry Badge.

Anyone who knew B.J. knew that family was the most important thing to him.  He was a homebody and a huge sports fan.  He and his brother, Brock, were always outside throwing a football or baseball or talking sports.  He continued his love of sports with Lane and instilled the importance of being a St. Louis Cardinal fan, too!

He was a quiet hero who was looked up to by everyone who knew him as he took his work seriously, but had an amazing sense of humor and quick wit that made him so much fun to be around.  His heart was huge, his smile was infectious, and his dimples made him unforgettable.

His first entry in his journal he kept in Afghanistan read… ”If you don’t live for something, you will die for nothing.”  He lived and died for all of us.

What is the Foundation

The Bryant J. Luxmore Memorial Fund was created as a means of giving back by providing four yearly student scholarships as well as giving support to local and national charities, non-profits, and the community, to ensure that our brave soldier's name and memory continues to live in a way that honors his character and integrity.