Spencer C. Akers
Sergeant, Army National Guard
March 6, 1970 – December 8, 2005
Age – 35
Traverse City, MI
Operation Iraqi Freedom
1st Battalion, 125th Infantry Regiment, Michigan Army National Guard, Saginaw, MI
Killed by an Improvised Explosive Devise during combat operations in Habbahiyah, Iraq
Army Sergeant Spencer C. Akers died at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas, of wounds and burns sustained in Habbaniyah, Iraq, on November 21, 2005, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his Humvee during combat operations. He was assigned to the Army National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 125th Infantry Regiment, Saginaw, Michigan.
Spencer was a good kid, somebody every father would be proud of. He had a goal to become a state police trooper and was already a veteran of the first Gulf War. He was on his second deployment to Iraq. He believed it was the right thing to do. Spencer thought that it was better for him to be deployed as a single guy with no strings, than a married man. He wanted to do his part.
As a child, Spencer was drawn to the military and enjoyed wearing camouflage pajamas and playing with toy guns. He had always been fascinated by the military. Spencer had previously lived in Tustin, and had worked security in Traverse City for four years.
He was admired by his National Guard colleagues who said he was a great soldier, a great leader. He was always helping other people regardless of his own situation and what was going on in his life.
His combat brothers said he was a great soldier, a great leader, and he was always helping others regardless of his own situation.