Jordan Brochu, a 2008 graduate of Lake Region Vocational Center and a former resident of Casco, was killed by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan this week while serving in the U.S. Army.

A soldier killed in Afghanistan Monday was remembered this week by friends in the Lakes Region as a strong and confident young man who overcame great odds in his short life.

Private First Class Jordan M. Brochu, formerly of Casco and a 2008 graduate of Lake Region Vocational Center, was killed while serving with the 17th Infantry Battalion from Fort Lewis, Wash. According to reports, he was killed by a roadside bomb in southern Afghanistan.

Private Brochu’s family currently lives in Oakland, outside of Augusta, and could not be reached for comment.

But those who knew Brochu at Lake Region Vocational Center, where he spent one year and graduated in 2008, said he was an excellent athlete with a strong work ethic. Brochu also took a keen interest in cooking and enjoyed his culinary arts classes, taught by Eric Botka.

“Jordan was a spirited student, proud of his work and not afraid to show his work off,” Botka said. “He had come from difficult circumstances and worked hard on both his physical appearance and his mind.”

Botka remembers Brochu as a “really big, strong, muscular kid” who excelled at sports. One of those sports was football. Brochu played on Lake Region’s football team for his senior year under coach Chuck Hamaty.

“Jordan was there for one season. So I only knew him for a short time from mid-August to November. But he came in and worked hard and adapted well to the situation,” Hamaty said.

Hamaty said would Brochu would bake cookies and cupcakes during the school day and “take great pride” in presenting them to his fellow football teammates at practice in the afternoon. “The kids scarfed it all down, and I think Jordan took great pride in doing that for the kids,” Hamaty said.

Hamaty also remembers Brochu saying he planned to attend culinary arts school upon graduation.

“Unfortunately, I wish he had and hadn’t gone to Afghanistan instead. Basically Jordan was a good kid who was trying to find his way in this world,” Hamaty said.

Hamaty said Brochu’s athleticism and confident attitude likely benefited him in the Army.

“I don’t know, with young boys, I think sports gives them a sense of accomplishment and invulnerability. There are several players I’ve had that are going into (military) special forces. But those are the kinds of people you want serving in these places, good kids like Jordan,” Hamaty said.

Jordan Brochu, formerly of Casco and a 2008 graduate of Lake Region Vocational Center, was killed this week while serving in the Army in Afghanistan. (Courtesy photo)