Some spouses of deceased soldiers are uncomfortable with publicity, while others consent to speak briefly to the media but Brandi Durbin, whose husband was among those honored at Thursday’s Warriors Walk tree dedication, took a different approach. She called a press conference Wednesday at Fort Stewart Division Headquarters to discuss
her feelings about the death of her husband, Sgt. Wesley Durbin, who she was married to for 18 months.
Durbin’s widow said she wanted everyone to know who her husband was and what he stood for.
"My husband did die for his country," Brandi Durbin said. "He would have given his life any day for his soldiers."
"The military was his life," she continued. "This is not the military's fault. My husband would roll over if anyone tried to say the military was at fault."
Wesley Durbin was killed Sept. 14, along with Staff Sgt. Darris J. Dawson of Pensacola, Fla., when the two reportedly were shot by a fellow 3-7 IN soldier. Sgt. Joseph Bozicevich has been charged with two counts of murder in the shootings.
Bozicevich has been returned to the United States to face charges and is being held in an unspecified location in the Fort Stewart area.
As she displayed numerous photos of her husband, friends and family, Durbin said keeping the pictures close and wearing her husband’s dog tags helps her cope with grief.
"Some people probably think I'm crazy, but it does the job for me," she said. "I have my good days and bad days." Durbin said her 8-year-old daughter, Tamara, is a big help.
Wesley Durbin joined the Marine Corps right after high school, and just a few months after his Marine tour was over, he joined the Army. “I think, after the Marines, he wanted to see what the Army was like,” Durbin said. “He might have left the Army and joined the Air Force.”
her feelings about the death of her husband, Sgt. Wesley Durbin, who she was married to for 18 months.
Durbin’s widow said she wanted everyone to know who her husband was and what he stood for.
"My husband did die for his country," Brandi Durbin said. "He would have given his life any day for his soldiers."
"The military was his life," she continued. "This is not the military's fault. My husband would roll over if anyone tried to say the military was at fault."
Wesley Durbin was killed Sept. 14, along with Staff Sgt. Darris J. Dawson of Pensacola, Fla., when the two reportedly were shot by a fellow 3-7 IN soldier. Sgt. Joseph Bozicevich has been charged with two counts of murder in the shootings.
Bozicevich has been returned to the United States to face charges and is being held in an unspecified location in the Fort Stewart area.
As she displayed numerous photos of her husband, friends and family, Durbin said keeping the pictures close and wearing her husband’s dog tags helps her cope with grief.
"Some people probably think I'm crazy, but it does the job for me," she said. "I have my good days and bad days." Durbin said her 8-year-old daughter, Tamara, is a big help.
Wesley Durbin joined the Marine Corps right after high school, and just a few months after his Marine tour was over, he joined the Army. “I think, after the Marines, he wanted to see what the Army was like,” Durbin said. “He might have left the Army and joined the Air Force.”