Seattle mother mourns ‘patriot’ son

Associated Press

SEATTLE — The Christmas tree at Al and Ingrid Solhaug’s home is decorated with red, white and blue bulbs and a small American flag.

Until Wednesday, the decorations were a salute to Ingrid’s son, a Green Beret serving in Afghanistan. Now, they’re a memorial.

Staff Sgt. Brian Cody Prosser, 28, was one of three Army Special Forces soldiers killed Wednesday when a U.S. bomb missed its target and landed 100 yards from their position.

"We just sent his presents to him," said Al Solhaug, his stepfather. "Bless his heart, they didn’t get there in time."

Solhaug said Prosser’s mother felt something was wrong the night before.

"She couldn’t sleep, she kept seeing his face. It was dark," said Solhaug, a dentist.

The next morning, "We saw the chaplain knock at the door, and you just knew what it was," he said.

"It’s a very tough time for her," Solhaug said. "I think the loss of a child is the worst thing that can happen to a person."

Prosser and his wife, Shawna, lived in Clarksville, Tenn. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 5th Special Forces Group, based in nearby Fort Campbell, Ky.

He grew up in the mountain community of Frazier Park, Calif., about 50 miles south of Bakersfield. He was captain of the football team at Maricopa High School.

Prosser joined the Army right after graduation, serving as a military policeman and moving on to intelligence before joining the Army Special Forces.

"He was truly an All-American boy, and he went on to be an All-American soldier," Solhaug said.

Prosser’s team was responsible for spotting targets and calling in coordinates, his stepfather said. He had served in hot spots from Haiti and Somalia to Kosovo.

"He did all the tough jobs," Solhaug said.

Prosser was on assignment in the Middle East and ready to rotate home when the Sept. 11 attacks occurred. He stayed in the region.

A few days before he died, Prosser called his wife in Clarksville.

"He wanted to tell her he loved her, I think knowing he was going to be assigned to a very costly mission," Solhaug said. "But he knew the risks, and he was willing to take them because he was a true patriot."

In addition to his sister, Lisa Marie Donato, Prosser is survived by three stepbrothers and a stepsister. His father, Brian Prosser, lives in Frazier Park.

Memorials are planned next week in Clarksville and Frazier Park, followed by burial in Arlington National Cemetery.

Copyright ©2001 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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