Ernest Bryant - Obituary May 28, 1941 - March 23, 2025

MSG Ernest M. Bryant, US Army (ret.) age 83, of Carthage, N.C., passed away peacefully in his sleep on Sunday, March 23, 2025, at the VA Community Living Center, Fayetteville, N.C. Ernie, as he was known to his family and friends, was born on May 28, 1941, in Alderson, W.V. He was the son of Plummer James Bryant and Mary Ayers Bryant. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his grandparents, Plummer J. and Pearl Sims Bryant of Blue Sulphur Springs, W.V. and Ambrose and Sallie Acock Ayers of Flat Mountain, W.V., and his brother, Elmer Ray Bryant. He is survived by his sisters, Sally L. Bryant Mueller (Mike) of Jacksonville, FL, and Vivian Sheppard (Calvin) of Alderson, WV; aunt, Natalie Clowser of FL; uncle, Noel Adkins of Rainelle, WV as well as numerous nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. Ernie attended Alderson schools and played on the high school football team. He was active in the Boy Scouts, earning Life Scout rank and Civil Air Patrol. During high school, he worked at the local pharmacy behind the soda fountain as the local “soda-jerk” and was loved by all. He entered the US Army when he was 17 and was stationed in Bremerhaven, Germany until 1962 when he was discharged. In 1966, he re-enlisted in the Army and was assigned to Ft. Benning, GA for parachute training and radio communications. He was then assigned to Special Forces Group, Co C.3rd Battalion group in Ft. Bragg, N.C He then served a tour of duty in Vietnam as Communication Specialist with the 5th SFG. He was wounded in battle and hospitalized in country. While recuperating, Ernie developed malaria, extending his tour to 14 months. After returning to Ft. Bragg, Ernie volunteered to return to a combat zone in Thailand in place of his younger brother. He completed his military career in Okinawa. MSG Bryant was awarded the following decorations, medals, badges, etc.: Parachute Badge, Combat Infantry badge, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Thailand Parachute with Fourragere (a special military award as a braided cord distinguishing him from others), Purple Heart Medal, Bronze Star Medal, Presidential Unit Citation, Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Pal, Vietnam Parachute Badge, Army Commendation Medal (1 oak leaf cluster), Army Expeditionary Medal (Korea), Meritorious Unit Commendation (1 oak leaf cluster), Good Conduct Medal (6 awards), Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal w/ Device 60-t, Republic of Philippines Presidential Unit Citation and Expert Qualification Badge M- 16 Rifle. Additional education and processionaries: Arabic language course, French language course, Operations and Intelligence course, and Tactical Communication course. After he retired, Ernie enrolled in Sandhills Community College where he earned an associate degree in history. Ernie was the founding charter member of the Moore County Amateur Radio Society. Additionally, he was instructive in helping set up Montgomery County and the Richmond County Amateur Radio Clubs. He took many new members under his wing teaching the ins and outs of being a HAM radio operator. Ernie made numerous contacts around the world and was well known by HAM radio operators on every continent exemplified by the numerous boxes of national and international contact cards received from around the world. Ernie’s contact sign “KR4W” was known internationally. He developed his love for radio communications while serving in Vietnam with the US Army Special Forces. Ernie cherished his family, especially his girls, from mom to the youngest niece. He looked forward each year to visiting family and celebrating Alderson’s annual 4th of July celebration, banquet, class reunion and parade. The family wishes to thank the nurses, doctors and staff at the VA CLC in Fayetteville, the Special Forces members who visited Ernie in hospice, his radio club buddies, and very special friend and brother, Marco Rotting who was steadfastly by his side to the end. We are so thankful for his tremendous help, devotion and friendship during the past years. Ernie loved nature, especially birds that flocked around his feeders, so in lieu of flowers please hang a bird feeder in his memory. A funeral service will be held at Jernigan Warren Funeral Home Monday, April 28, 2025 at 12pm. The family will receive friends an hour prior. Burial, with military honors, will take place at 2pm following the funeral service at Sandhills State Veteran Cemetery. Online condolences may be left at www.jerniganwarren.com Arrangements by Jernigan-Warren Funeral Home, 545 Ramsey St., Fayetteville, NC 28301 To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Ernest Marshall Bryant, please visit our floral store.