Eugene H.E. Alex
Staff Sergeant, United States Army
August 30, 1974 – September 2, 2006
Age – 32
Bay City, MI
Operation Iraqi Freedom
4th Squadron, 24th Cavalry Regiment, 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, Fort Wainwright, AK
Died of injuries suffered in Baghdad by small arms fire
Staff Sergeant Eugene enlisted in the United States Army on 1 May 1996. He suffered a concussion and whiplash. He was flown back home to Alaska for convalescent leave. When his leave was up, he returned to Iraq on radio watch. As the violence in Baghdad escalated, Eugene was one of 4,000 troops ordered to stay beyond their one-year tour. He could have stayed in the position he was in. He was safe doing radio watch, but it wasn’t what he wanted to do. Eugene felt ready and wanted nothing more than to return back to the line, he loved leading Soldiers. He loved being part of a team, with determination he fought his way back to the line unit. He was exhausted with running outside of the wire. Yet, he was happy, he was back leading, he felt like he was making a difference. Eugene had a job to do, he couldn’t have more proud to be serving a long side the men of Charlie Troop. Baghdad was dangerous, the Strykers were part of the front line, clearing houses, and working neighborhood by neighborhood to bring the city under control. On August 30, 2006 Eugene was in the gunner hatch at a traffic control point. Watching over his fellow Soldiers was they were conducting inspections. A sniper shot him, in the 1 inch space opening between his helmet and vest collar. He passed away after being medically evacuated to Germany. He was more than a hero that day, he was a son, husband, father, brother and friend.