Pvt. 1st Class Casey Brand, Clanton native, recently returned home after a three-month tour of duty in Iraq. Brand has been proudly serving as an aviation specialist with the United States

Army for a year and a half with the 131st Aviation Regiment IRAQ.

Brand graduated from Chilton County High School in 2010. He is the son of Melissa and Kenneth Brand of Clanton. He has a 2-year-old son, Case Brand Jr. and a sister, Allison. During his time home, Casey enjoyed taking a trip to Wind Creek State Park for five days with his family.

Brand said, “I loved spending time with my mother, father, sister and especially my son.”

He enjoyed spending time with his friends, also. Casey took an afternoon fishing trip with his grandfather while he was home and enjoyed catching fish and cooking them later that evening.

After serving overseas, Brand said, “What I missed the most was the land, all the beautiful trees and lakes that God created for us to enjoy.”

Brand will return to duty this week for another tour in Iraq for six months. He looks forward to his next visit to Clanton to see his son, friends and family.

“Casey has been a long-time friend of mine, and I want to thank him for serving our country,” said Emily Connell. “He is a very brave person with a very big heart! I pray that God will spread his blessings upon him each and every day, along with the rest of the soldiers in his unit and the other soldiers who continue to serve our country.”