Brandon and Trisha Koble, pictured with daughters Kayla, Kylee and Kayden, are the guest speakers at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church this Sunday.

St. Peter’s Lutheran Church of Warsaw is pleased to welcome Brandon Koble, a second year seminarian at Concordia Theological Seminary Fort Wayne, as the liturgist and guest speaker this Sunday, July 7. Brandon’s experience in the U.S. Marine Corps promises to offer a unique perspective as he leads the congregation in the 9 a.m. worship service this holiday weekend.

Brandon graduated from Purdue University and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps in December 2004. In May 2005, Brandon was reassigned to Combat Logistics Battalion 1. This unit deployed to Iraq three months later.

In August of 2005, he found himself on the Syrian border in a base called Al Qa’im, in charge of 75 Marines and Sailors. Brandon’s closest leadership was two hours away by helicopter. Throughout the next seven months, the Marines supervised by Branson performed magnificently. As a result, he was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal for the work completed.

Upon his return to the U.S. in March 2006, Brandon was selected to be the Aide-de-Camp for the Commanding General of the 1st Marine Logistics Group located at Camp Pendleton.

In January of 2008, Brandon’s group depIoyed to Iraq again. He continued his time as the Aide in Al Taqqadum, Iraq, until May 2008. At that time, he was reassigned to the Military Transition Team supporting the 1st Iraqi Army Division. This Division was ordered into Basrah, Iraq, to clear the city of insurgents. This produced a degree of intense fighting.

Brandon’s team spent three months clearing territory along the Iranian border. He was in charge of a detachment of 105 Marines and Sailors that filled various security and support roles. In June 2008, he was hit twice by IED’s. The second blast blew out part of his ear drum and, unbeknownst to him at the time, fractured two vertebrae in his back.

In August 2008, he returned to Al Taqqadum and took over as the Operations Officer and the Headquarters Company Commander, leading over 300 Marines and Sailors. Brandon became very close friends with his Chaplain and used a great deal of down time to discuss his faith and how to maintain it in a combat zone.

In December of 2008, Brandon surprised his wife by returning on their anniversary. He returned home two months early due to accepting orders for recruiting duty in Louisville, Ky. In February of 2009, he took over as the Executive Officer of a recruiting station that covered all of Kentucky, southern Indiana, and the greater Cincinnati area. In October, Brandon was informed by doctors that his back was indeed broken in the IED attack in 2008 and would require surgery, which he finally had in May 2010. Brandon left the Marine Corps in December 2010 due to his medical issues and moved his family to Florida. There he worked in the motorcycle industry, moving to Fort Wayne in 2012 in order to attend seminary.

St. Peter’s Lutheran Church of Warsaw is a new mission church of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod currently meeting at the Firemen’s Building in Pike Lake Park. Sunday morning worship services begin mornings at 9 a.m.