- Born on: August 16, 1950
- Departed on: November 26, 2021
- Resided in: Iowa City, IA
Bryan Lynn McClellan
Bryan Lynn McClellan, 71, of Iowa City, IA, formerly of Greenwood, DE and Hudson, IA, died Friday, Nov 26, 2021, at the Veterans Hospital, Iowa City, IA. A military memorial service will be held at 1:00 pm on December 17, 2021, at the VFW 609 Hollywood Blvd, Iowa City, IA 52240.
He was born August 16, 1950, in Waterloo, IA, the son of Lebert E. and Mary E. McClellan. He attended Hudson High School and graduated from Hawkeye Tech with a State of Iowa Welding Certification.
In 1970, Bryan married Mary Randall, they were later divorced. He entered the US Army in 1970, and on August 9th at 3am Pvt Bryan McClellan arrived at Bien Hoa AFB, Vietnam as a member of the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment (the Blackhorse ACR). According to Bryan upon arrival, he was told to "hustle off the plane as mortar rounds and 90mm rockets are common events." He told his brother Toby, "They directed me to the mess hall (called Alice's Restaurant), debriefed me, and then gave me a bus ride to 11th Cavalry barracks at Tan Son Nhut Air Base for 2 days in-country training and issued weapons and uniforms for jungle war fare. We were treated more like men, not dumb children as we were at boot camp. The next day I was transferred by ammo chopper to 3 I Troop of the 11th Cavalry deep in the jungle. My sergeant took me to my 'Sheridan' and told me I would sleep next to my tank under a small lean-to. I had arrived, too young to be scared."
Bryan married Susan Robert of Waterloo, IA, at his childhood home in rural Hudson on June 6, 1981. He worked and went back to school in multiple states before eventually settling in Greenwood, DE, with Susan to raise his family. His favorite job was an N.C.C.E.R Certified Instructor at Sussex Tech Adult Division Apprenticeship Training program in Georgetown, DE. They returned to Iowa City, IA, in 2012/2013.
Bryan was preceded in death by his parents, a sister Lisa Hundley, and a brother-in-law Gary Rickert.
He is survived by three daughters, Erin (David) Singleton of Preston, Lancashire UK, Lisa (John) Granville of Poolesville, MD, and Jeniveve Longoria of Greenwood DE, and one son Tom (Beth) Randall of Ozark, MI, two sisters Margaret Rickert and Kathleen (Larry) Bigelow, two brothers, Toby (Pamela) McClellan, and Jeffrey (Jo Ellen) McClellan. He had ten grandchildren: Maisie and Finlay Singleton, Jeremiah and Gregory Granville, Aiden, Eden 'Gracie', Christina and Adaline Longoria (Father David Longoria of Iowa City), Ruby and Mille Randall, along with many nieces and nephews.
He was born August 16, 1950, in Waterloo, IA, the son of Lebert E. and Mary E. McClellan. He attended Hudson High School and graduated from Hawkeye Tech with a State of Iowa Welding Certification.
In 1970, Bryan married Mary Randall, they were later divorced. He entered the US Army in 1970, and on August 9th at 3am Pvt Bryan McClellan arrived at Bien Hoa AFB, Vietnam as a member of the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment (the Blackhorse ACR). According to Bryan upon arrival, he was told to "hustle off the plane as mortar rounds and 90mm rockets are common events." He told his brother Toby, "They directed me to the mess hall (called Alice's Restaurant), debriefed me, and then gave me a bus ride to 11th Cavalry barracks at Tan Son Nhut Air Base for 2 days in-country training and issued weapons and uniforms for jungle war fare. We were treated more like men, not dumb children as we were at boot camp. The next day I was transferred by ammo chopper to 3 I Troop of the 11th Cavalry deep in the jungle. My sergeant took me to my 'Sheridan' and told me I would sleep next to my tank under a small lean-to. I had arrived, too young to be scared."
Bryan married Susan Robert of Waterloo, IA, at his childhood home in rural Hudson on June 6, 1981. He worked and went back to school in multiple states before eventually settling in Greenwood, DE, with Susan to raise his family. His favorite job was an N.C.C.E.R Certified Instructor at Sussex Tech Adult Division Apprenticeship Training program in Georgetown, DE. They returned to Iowa City, IA, in 2012/2013.
Bryan was preceded in death by his parents, a sister Lisa Hundley, and a brother-in-law Gary Rickert.
He is survived by three daughters, Erin (David) Singleton of Preston, Lancashire UK, Lisa (John) Granville of Poolesville, MD, and Jeniveve Longoria of Greenwood DE, and one son Tom (Beth) Randall of Ozark, MI, two sisters Margaret Rickert and Kathleen (Larry) Bigelow, two brothers, Toby (Pamela) McClellan, and Jeffrey (Jo Ellen) McClellan. He had ten grandchildren: Maisie and Finlay Singleton, Jeremiah and Gregory Granville, Aiden, Eden 'Gracie', Christina and Adaline Longoria (Father David Longoria of Iowa City), Ruby and Mille Randall, along with many nieces and nephews.
