Farewell and Walk with God ~ Capt Bruno de Solenni

Captain Bruno Giancarlo de Solenni,

Farewell and Walk with God

Captain Bruno Giancarlo de Solenni, age 32, of the Oregon Army National Guard, based in Medford, Oregon, died of wounds sustained when an IED (Improvised Explosive Device) detonated near his vehicle near Kandahar, Afghanistan on September 20, 2008. Two Afghan interpreters were also killed and two Soldiers were wounded in the explosion. Capt. de Solenni and the Counter Narcotics Infantry Kandak Embedded Training Team were enroute from a Forward Operating Base to the Kandahar Air Field when an IED detonated destroying their vehicle. He was serving in Operation Enduring Freedom as a member of the Embedded Training Team, Task Force Phoenix. He was assigned to the Joint Forces Headquarters, Element Training Team, Oregon Army National Guard.

CPT de Solenni was born in Crescent City, California to Mario de Solenni and California Martin. He graduated from Del Norte HighSchool in Crescent City in 1994. CPT de Solenni enlisted in theOregon National Guard on Dec 30, 1996. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant on May 2, 2001 as a member of B Company, 1st Battalion, 186th Infantry. He went on to complete a Bachelor of Science degree in History and graduated Southern Oregon State University on June 12, 2004.

Later that year his battalion received an alert order for mobilization to Sinai, Egypt as part of the Multi-National Force and Observers mission. Eight months after his return, CPT de Solenni volunteered to go to Iraq with the 2nd Battalion, 162nd Infantry as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom II. In November 2007, he was reassignedto Joint Force Headquarters and mobilized with the Embedded Training Team to Afghanistan as part of Task Force Phoenix. He had been in Afghanistan seven months when the incident occurred. The Team was scheduled to complete their mission in December and return to home station. At the time of his death he had been in Afghanistan for seven months. His previous assignments within the Oregon Army Guard were at HHC (-) 1st Battalion, 186th Infantry in Ashland and Company D 1st BAttalion, 186th Infantry in Grants Pass.

In civilian life, Bruno was part owner of two local businesses in the fishing and logging industries. He was an avid and very successful local deer hunter, having killed his first buck at the age of 12 on Fox Ridge in Del Norte County. As a son, brother, uncle, and friend, Bruno touched many lives. His absence will be experiencedby many. He is survived by his mother California Martin; his father Mario de Solenni and his wife Linda; his twin brother Ricardo and his wife Autumn; his brother Gino and his wife Athena, all of Crescent City, Calif, and his sister Pia and her husband Rory Conway, of Philadelphia. In addition he leaves behind seven nieces and nephews: Caitlyn, Jaelyn, Julia, Mario, Giancarlo, Sophia and Olivia; two aunts, Jan Martin and Mary Freeman, and a special friend, Farrah Bates, together with numerous extended family members in Italy, Alaska, Arizona and Virginia.

In lieu of flowers and gifts, the family is requesting that donations be made to the Bruno de Solenni Memorial Fund for the assistance of other military families. Donations can be made through PayPal or by mail to: Bruno de Solenni Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 876, Crescent City, CA 95531. Cards and letters can be sent to the family via Lisa Wheeler, c/o Maximus Group, 600 Churchill Ct., Woodstock,GA 30188.

A Rosary for Bruno will be said at St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church, St. Joseph's Catholic Church, 319E. St., on Friday, Oct 3, at 7:00 p.m. in Crescent City. His remains will be under military guard beginning at 5:00 p.m. for those wishing to pay respects. His funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, October 4th, at 10:00 a.m. Internment will be at St. Joseph's Catholic Cemetery in Crescent City with full military honors.

The Patriot Guard Riders will be standing the flag line for Captain de Solenni.

Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, and soldiers at this difficult time.