Photo courtesy of Academy Photo |
MAJ Hecker died on January 5,
2006 was among five soldiers killed Thursday when an improvised
explosive device detonated near their Humvee in Najaf, south
of Baghdad during convoy operations. Hecker was assigned to the
3rd Battalion, 16th Field Artillery, 2nd Brigade Combat Team,
4th Infantry Division, Fort Hood, TX. Also killed were Capt.
Christopher P. Petty, 33, of Vienna, Va.; Sgt. 1st Class Stephen
J. White, 39, of Talladega, Ala.; Sgt. Johnny J. Peralez Jr.,
25, of Kingsville, Texas; and Pvt. Robbie M. Mariano, 21, of
Stockton, Calif. Hecker had been deployed to Iraq just after
Thanksgiving 2005.
Hecker went to West Point, where
he studied engineering management and sang in the glee club.
He had been stationed in Oklahoma, Germany, and Bosnia and Herzegovina
in the '90's.
He is survived by his wife,
and four children, ages 2-10. His father is a retired Army Colonel
(Two tours in Viet Nam) from the West Point class of 1965, and
his brother is currently serving in the Marines.
He received a master's degree
in English from the University of Oregon and went back to West
Point, where he was an assistant English professor for three
years. He studied Twain and presented a paper about baseball
and patriotism. He edited a book about Poe's time as a West Point
cadet titled "Private Perry and Mister Poe: The West Point
Poems, 1831."
Hecker loved baseball, and his
dream was to teach after his year-long tour of duty in Iraq.
His funeral will be at West Point on January
18, 2006
Regarding donations, In lieu of flowers,
please consider contributing to
the MAJOR William F Hecker III Memorial Fund. Its purposes are
to support:
- Award in Bill's honor at West Point
- Established charities that support children
of fallen soldiers
- Special Collections section of the USMA
Library
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- Checks can be sent to:
- William F. Hecker III Memorial
Fund
- Indicate on the check memo line:
Acct Number 3165552
Mailing address:
William F Hecker III Memorial fund
c/o First Command Bank
PO Box 901041
Ft. Worth, TX 76101-9778
- Company Command Tribute
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