Eric Richard Hart
Captain, United States Army
April 25, 1990 – December 28, 2024
Age – 34
White Pigeon, Michigan
Operation Inherent Resolve
Operation Spartan Shield, Saudi Arabia
38th Infantry Division, Indiana National Guard
Indianapolis, Indiana
Died in a noncombat incident in Iraq
Eric was born in Sturgis, MI to Terry and Arlene Hart. He enjoyed sports such as soccer, baseball, and golf, and was a long‑time member of the Elkhart County 4‑H Swine Club.
He had graduated from Ball State University with a degree in Business and Architecture and worked civilian jobs at Camp Atterbury before active duty. In 2015 he was commissioned as a second lieutenant from the Officer Candidate School at Camp Atterbury, Indiana.
Eric was an Army Captain, branched as a Logistics Officer in the Indiana Army National Guard. He was serving as part of Operation Inherent Resolve in Iraq, with a previous deployment in 2019-2020 in support of Operation Spartan Shield in Saudi Arabia. During his time in the military, he completed the Quartermaster Officer Leadership Course as well as the Operational Contract Support Course.
He received the Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, and Meritorious Unit Commendation, among other awards.
CPT Eric Richard Hart, 34, of Indianapolis, Indiana, died Saturday in Iraq, the Army National Guard said in a statement. Hart was assigned to the Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion of Indiana’s 38th Infantry Division in Iraq. His death is under investigation.
While all combat operations have ceased for U.S. forces in Iraq, the U.S. maintains a presence of 2,500 troops to assist the Iraqi military in counter-Islamic State operations and training. Those forces have repeatedly come under attack in the 14 months since Hamas attacked Israel, spurring a wider, deadly response from Tel Aviv.
During the last year, Iranian-backed forces have launched one-way attack drones, rockets and missiles at U.S. facilities in Iraq in response to Israel’s military operations in Gaza and Lebanon.