Michigan Heroes Museum – Brandon Steffey

Our hero today is Specialist Brandon K. Steffey, who is celebrating his 40th birthday today in heaven with his K9, Mace, who was killed with him. Say a prayer for him and his family left behind, who mourn his loss every day.

Brandon K. Steffey
Specialist, United States Army
October 6, 1986 – October 25, 2009
Age – 23
Sault Ste Marie, MI

Operation Enduring Freedom
178th Military Police Detachment, 89th Military Police
Brigade, III Corps, Fort Hood, Texas

Died of wounds sustained when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device

Spc Brandon Steffey of Michigan was born at War Memorial Hospital to Dennis and Rachel Steffey. As a young child, Brandon played in many sports, wrestling, hockey and baseball being his favorites. He occasionally attempted to take down his father in wrestling, but it wasn’t until many years later, after army training, that he was able to best him.

Brandon was able to make the best of any situation. This was evident during his Senior year at Sault High when after transferring to Brimley, a parent described him by saying that he “breathed life back into the baseball program.” Brandon was admired by so many people for his manners and politeness. Everyone who knew Brandon loved him and his smile. He was a tough guy with a contagious laugh, a gentle giant as some described him. Aside from everything else that he accomplished, he was a huge influence on many who knew him, most of all his nephew Connor who, from a very early age, looked up to him.

Brandon is survived by his wife, Andrea and daughter, Abigail. He joined the Army in 2006 and served two tours of duty as a K-9 handler. He was serving his second tour along with his K-9 partner, Maci. He had planned to stay in Texas after the Army and work for Border Patrol and Immigration.

Brandon K. Steffey was known as “The Big Teddy Bear” because of his smile and the comforting hugs he doled out – all 6-foot-3, 200-plus pounds of him.

“Brandon was a very kind and considerate person,” said John Sherry, a principal at Sault Area High School in Steffey’s hometown of Sault Sainte Marie, Mich. “A gentle giant with a very good sense of humor.” Sherry said Steffey played football at his school and then transferred to play baseball at Brimley High School, where he graduated in 2005.

A friend, Timothy Shaw, remembered Steffey as polite and honest, except for one time when he pulled off a win in a cribbage game by pegging extra points during a temporary power outage on a stormy night in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

He was remembered by fellow soldiers as follows:

As the convoy commander, I send my deepest regrets and sympathy to the family and friends he left behind as he moved to a better place with Maci. My prayers are with them on this anniversary.
-SSG Richard Janise

I was serving in the same sector as Brandon when he and his K9, Maci, were killed. They were a superb team, and we deeply felt their loss. RIP