Staff Sergeant Alicia Anna Birchett was born September 7th, 1977, in Boston, Massachusetts.
A member of the Wampanoag tribe, Birchett, who as a child was given the name “Little Brown Bee”, was known to be adventurous, patriotic, deeply committed to her family, and proud of her heritage. She was remembered as being “practical, dedicated and kind,” according to the Cape Cod Times. She loved to sing and spend time with her family.
She followed her grandfather’s footsteps, and after graduating from Falmouth High School in 1995, she joined the Army at age 17. “Joining the Army was her way of contributing to the world and seeing the world,” her cousin said.
Birchett was stationed at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, for over a decade. She served as an engineer mechanic in the 887th Engineer Company, 326th Engineer Battalion, 101st Sustainment Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) and completed tours of duty in Germany, Korea and Iraq.
On August 9th, 2007, in Baghdad, Iraq, Birchett was performing maintenance on a vehicle. She was in the process of changing a tire when the truck’s brakes failed, killing her. She was 29.
In the aftermath of her death, in accordance with tribal tradition, more than a dozen members of Birchett’s family watched over a small outdoor fireplace at the home of her aunt until Birchett was buried. Staff Sergeant Alicia A. Birchett was survived by her husband and three children aged 2, 4, and 7. Her aunt, reflecting the decision to bury Birchett at the tribe’s cemetery, stated, “No disrespect to the service, but she’s our tribe and that’s why we’re burying her with our people.”
Staff Sergeant Alicia A. Birchett is buried at Mashpee Town Cemetery, Mashpee, Massachusetts.
Sources:
https://www.capecodtimes.com/story/news/2007/08/16/cape-tribe-member-dies-in/52819598007/
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/20946419/alicia_anna-birchett
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