Fallen Soldier Returns Home to Oklahoma

By Rusty Surette, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- The body of an Oklahoma soldier who was shot and killed in Tennessee arrived back home to Oklahoma City Thursday.

Family and friends of U.S. Army Spc. Brandon Buettner, 24, waited at the Will Rogers World Airport for his arrival. Buettner's body was transported on a commercial flight from a Dallas airport.

Buettner was shot July 4, after he and another soldier went to a Clarksville, Tennessee neighborhood to pick up Buettner's girlfriend. Police said Buettner got into a confrontation with a crowd in the area and that's when tempers flared and shots were fired.

"He was shot in the back as he was driving away from the crowd", said Denise Buettner, Brandon's mother.

Buettner grew up in the Oklahoma City area and his mother said he had "405 OKC" tattooed on his body.

"They almost didn't allow him in to the military because of that tattoo, but it wasn't because he was in a gang. He loved Oklahoma," said Denise Buettner.

Brandon Buettner was stationed at Fort Campbell Kentucky. He enlisted in the army on September 11, 2005 and wanted to follow in his grandfather's footsteps by serving in the military. His ultimate goal was to make his country proud.

"He went over there with the intentions of being the one to find Osama Bin Laden, and I guarantee you my son is still looking for him," said Denise Buettner.

Born in Kingfisher, graduating in Edmond, and making his final arrival in Oklahoma City Thursday, Buetter's family said their son served with pride and loved Oklahoma. He had plans of coming home and going to college. His family said they always feared those dreams would be shattered by fighting overseas in Afghanistan. They never imagined it would happen here at home.

"It's kind of ironic our boys are going over and fighting a war and they're having to come home to fight a war in our own country,"said Denise Buettner.

Police in Clarksville, Tennessee said they're still investigating Buettner's death. So far, no arrests have been made.

Visitation begins at 10 a.m. on Friday, July 10, 2009 at the Shekinah Fellowship Church, 412 SW 104th, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Services will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, July 11. Interment will follow services at Resthaven Memory Gardens.