SGT Andy Eckert enlisted in the Army Reserve in 2001 as a carpenter. After completing Basic Training at Ft Leonard Wood and AIT at Gulfport, MS he was assigned to the 983rd Engineer Battalion, Monclova, OH. In 2003, Andy was activated as an Individual Augmentee for a Regular Army Engineer Battalion and deployed to Iraq with that unit. During the deployment, he was wounded by shrapnel from an IED and received his first Purple Heart. After returning from his first deployment Andy’s reserve unit was once activated activated and deployed to Iraq. Andy died May 8 in Balad, Iraq, of injuries sustained earlier that day when an improvised explosive device detonated near his Humvee in Samarra, Iraq. He was awarded his second Purple Heart and a Bronze Star. -Submitted by family.

Andy’s service and sacrifice was honored during the 2016 Montana Expedition. To read more about Andy’s service visit the link below.