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<p><em>Brandon Scott Glover</em> laughed at every situation. Whether at the USMA Prep School, our Rockbound Highland Home, or on one of many deployments, Brandon knew how to find the humor in any challenge, large or small. </p>
<p>When Brandon was a firstie and color lieutenant, a classmate had the unfortunate duty of inspecting his room on occasion. During one such inspection, the classmate noticed a new item on his desk—a full size, working crossbow. “Brandon,” the classmate asked, “What the heck is this?” Brandon looked the classmate straight in the eye and deadpanned, “Knick-knack.”</p>
<p>Brandon often celebrated life with a cigar, a burnt offering to bring good luck. This brought unwanted attention to him, as when he infamously smoked a cigar during a Department of Physical Education fitness walk. The resulting “Report of Delinquency” is immortalized in the March 1995 edition of the Pointer, including Brandon’s simple response: “Sir, there is no excuse for my action. I simply like Swisher Sweets.” </p>
<p>His joy in life was matched by his skill at connecting with others. A graduate of the Defense Language Institute after his enlistment in 1989, Brandon spoke Russian, Czech, German, Polish, Serbo-Croatian, Spanish, and English. He put those abilities to work in finding excitement at a moment’s notice. As a Russian and Spanish major, he took delight in exploring areas in and around West Point that let him put his language skills to use. </p>
<p>One such outing brought him to New York City’s Brighton Beach, frequented by Russian émigrés. Brandon needed little urging to seek out opportunities to practice his language. In one store he was talking with a lady who was befuddled by the cadet uniforms. She asked who Brandon was with; in perfect Russian, Brandon replied, “With the Army.” Still dumbfounded, she asked, “Yes, but which one?” Brandon went on to explain cadet life at length, one in a series of many connections that blessed everyone around him.</p>
<p>Born in Oxnard, CA, Brandon came to the Academy by way of the U.S. Military Academy Preparatory School (then located at Fort Monmouth, NJ). There, he immediately gained a reputation as a friend of all and someone who didn’t take things too seriously. The details of his ongoing feud with one of the USMAPS company tactical officers are lost to the ages, but one face-off reportedly ended with Brandon dining at the TAC’s house on a meal of fried Spam.</p>
<p>At West Point, Brandon continued to spark laughter wherever he went. His nickname of “G-Lover” perfectly captured both his infectious joy and his zest for life. A member of the Pistol Team and Protestant Chapel Choir for his first two years, he then shifted his energy to the Russian Club for the remainder of his time at West Point. During a summer expedition to Russia in 1994, Brandon explored every inch of Moscow and St. Petersburg, acting as guide and companion to classmates whose language skills and bravery didn’t match his.</p>
<p>Brandon commissioned into the Signal Corps in 1995 and immediately put his international skills into practice with successive tours in Germany from 1995 to 1999 and 2002 to 2003. It was during the first tour that he met and married his wife, Ianinna (also known as Yana), and began their family. He would continue his service in Europe as an integral part of the European Command, with tours at Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe in Mons, Belgium; Joint Forces Command Naples in Naples, Italy; and V Corps in Germany. </p>
<p>During his European tours, Brandon frequently planned for and deployed to execute challenging command and control missions in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Balkans. He quickly gained a reputation as an officer who could make risky missions happen in the most austere of locations.</p>
<p>On one such mission, Brandon needed to get mission critical equipment to an isolated Provincial Reconstruction Team in Afghanistan. Due to several days of adverse weather, no military airlift support was available, so Brandon rounded up a few friendly Afghan workers from his camp, dressed himself as a local, loaded the equipment on a truck, and drove several hours through hostile territory to deliver and ensure the equipment worked to standards.</p>
<p>On another mission, Brandon grew frustrated with intermittent communications and decided to take matters into his own hands. Refusing to send others where he wouldn’t go himself, he gathered a small team and went out to lay the necessary cables. Even after being wounded by sniper fire, he persisted and saw the mission through.</p>
<p>On the home front, Brandon and Yana delighted in inviting others to their home and making them feel welcome. Colleagues recall fondly their “little farmhouse” in Mons, and how it made others feel right at home. Another classmate remembered preparing to throw out his full dress top at graduation, only to be deterred by Brandon. Fast forward 14 years, and that same classmate was dumbfounded to receive that full dress coat back from Brandon while they served together at Fort Leavenworth, KS.</p>
<p>Brandon retired from the Army in 2014 and passed away on his 49th birthday in Manassas, VA. He is survived by Yana; their three children: Blake, Anastasia, and Brett; his father, Bradley; his mother, Martha; and his brother, Brad. He was buried at the West Point Cemetery on October 14, 2020 and his ring was placed in the USMA Library’s Ring Display as the first ring from the Class of 1995 on display. There was, alas, no room in the case for one of his beloved cigars. </p>
<p><em>— Classmates, family and friends</em></p>
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