Brian D. Allgood

West Point, 1982

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by Mark Tillman on January 27, 2007:

I met Brian early in plebe year. We were both appointed from the great state of Oklahoma. Brian's family was living in Altus at the time. Our friendship grew over our years at West Point and from time to time our paths would cross in our Army careers. As cadets, our class schedules seemed to overlap, too. I was concentrating in chemistry and Brian in pre-med so many of the advanced chemistry electives seem to have us sectioned together--there was only one section. I was not as bright as Brian but learned to rely on him from time to time to help me through difficult topics such as organic chemistry (similar to learning Chinese) and physical chemistry (a close kin to rocket science). Socially, we hung out together at Ike as underclassmen, and later at the firstie club. Brian would always sport a dip of tobacco. I would try, at his urging (I was an Okie) but I would soon get dizzy and wave off after a point. It was great to have another Okie in the class to have as a friend. It made cadet life seem more tolerable at times. We were never assigned together but I followed his career and knew he would one day be the Army's Surgeon General. That seemed pretty clear to me. What I found remarkable was he seemed to always find a way to stay in the fight and close to soldiers. Clearly as an MD, he could have easily done otherwise and no one would think much different. Indeed, he would have been praised just the same. But Brian loved soldiers and soldiering and wanted, it seemed to me, to be in the thick of all of it, providing all he could as a doctor, surgeon, and soldier. In my opinion, Brian broke the typical mindset we often have of Army doctors. Many are good. Some are great. A select few, perhaps a very select few, would place themselves under such continuous and voluntary hardship and take such great personal risk. Brian was a great friend, a great soldier, a great human being, and a true hero for the cause of freedom. Aside from God and family, he died doing what he loved most: taking care of soldiers... soldiers like me and so many countless others. I will miss my friend, Brian. You have made us all very proud to have known you. You lived well and touched many in ways that were simply put, all good. May you rest in peace. Thanks so very much for being such a shining and worthy example for us all in nearly every aspect of life. Mark

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