Wyatt Dale Eisenhauer

1978 - 2005  (26 years)

• Name	Wyatt Dale Eisenhauer
  Nickname	PFC, US Army, KIA
  Born	14 Jun 1978	Pinckneyville, Perry County, Illinois, USA
  Gender	Male
  Died	19 May 2005	Mahmudiyah, Iraq   [1, 2]
  Buried	Antioch Cemetery, Tamaroa, Perry County, Illinois, USA
  Person ID	I12428	Suedpfalz
  Last Modified	28 May 2016

  
  

  Father	Frederick Charles Eisenhauer,   b. 11 Mar 1948, Pinckneyville, Perry County, Illinois, USA ,   d. 11 Dec 2014, Illinois, USA  (Age 66 years)
  Mother	Pamela Gay Farthing
  Family ID	F6171	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Notes

  DEATH: http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2003/iraq/forces/casualties/page3.html Pfc. Wyatt D. Eisenhauer 26 Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 70th Armor Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 1st Armored Division Pinckneyville, Illinois Killed on an escort mission when a roadside bomb detonated near his Humvee while crossing a bridge in Mahmudiyah, Iraq, on May 19, 2005 Army Pfc. Wyatt D. Eisenhauer Wyatt D. Eisenhauer had dyslexia, so he picked up all kinds of knowledge the way he could -- by listening. He taught himself how to play guitar and did well enough in school to earn a scholarship to college. "Wyatt was like a sponge. He'd seen something or heard something and he absorbed it because he couldn't depend on reading it," said his mother, Gay. "There wasn't anything he couldn't master." Eisenhauer, 26, of Pinckneyville, Ill., died May 19 in Mahmudiyah, Iraq, on an escort mission when a roadside bomb exploded near his vehicle. He was based at Fort Riley. Eisenhauer placed first in a state diesel equipment technology competition and earned a scholarship to attend Southern Illinois University for automotive technical training. When he was 21 and his youngest sister, then 8 1/2, was diagnosed with rare autoimmune disease that required chemotherapy treatments, he would lie on the floor with her, clean up after her and change her clothes. "Wyatt was never about him," his mother said. He is also survived by his father, Fred. BIOGRAPHY: http://wyatt-eisenhauer.memory-of.com/About.aspx Blagojevich, Quinn ask military to better serve soldiers' families BY NICOLE SACK THE SOUTHERN A Chicagoland press conference between the governor and the Army's top official Wednesday was spurred by the grief of a Pinckneyville family.Gov. Rod Blagojevich and Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn met with Secretary of the Army Francis Harvey to describe problems Illinois families had with the Army's procedures for notifying next of kin when a soldier is killed. Before the meeting, Blagojevich and Quinn spoke with the family of Army Pfc. Wyatt Eisenhauer, who was killed in May 2005 while on an escort mission in Iraq. The Casualty Assistance Officer sent to notify the Eisenhauers had never before been assigned to a casualty call and had little training. He read his lines from a book using a very impersonal manner, which compounded the tragic news he was delivering. "Losing a family member is one of the most painful things any of us can go through. I can't imagine how much more difficult the news of a death would be if it's delivered late or by someone unprepared for the task," Blagojevich said in a statement Wednesday. "Unfortunately, some families of our fallen heroes have had to deal with these amateurish and completely unnecessary problems."Blagojevich and Quinn presented recommendations for improving the Casualty Assistance protocol in Illinois, which include better training for grief counseling for families, better organization to ensure proper body transport and monitoring programs."More than 100 Illinois men and women have given their last full measure of devotion in service to our country and out Gold Star families deserve to be informed of their loved one's death in an immediate and respectful manner by trained professionals," Quinn said.At the close of the press conference, Blagojevich said he hoped the Eisenhauer family's ordeals were not in vain. "Their willingness to share their frustrations gives the Army an opportunity to improve its handling of soldiers' deaths," he said. BIOGRAPHY: Gay and Fred Eisenhauer, of Pinckneyville, Ill., whose son, Wyatt, an Army scout, was killed last May in Iraq by an improvised bomb, are still hoping to receive their son's watch, eyeglasses and cellphone. The phone is precious because it holds a recording of their son's voice. A combat patch they were promised has never arrived. "I know these are little things," Mrs. Eisenhauer said. "What makes it important to me is that my son was good enough to go over there to fight, but he is not important enough to get his stuff back to his family." Colonel Torgersen said the Casualty and Memorial Affairs Operation Center "aggressively monitors the movement" of personal effects. Mortuary specialists inventory, photograph, clean and then ship belongings to the center via Federal Express. Soldiers, in their coffins, usually arrive from Dover Air Force Base in the belly of a commercial flight. But honor guards have not always been present as the coffins come off the plane. The Eisenhauers had hoped to take comfort in the military rituals. Instead, the airline placed Private Eisenhauer's coffin in a cargo warehouse with crates and boxes stacked high around it. There was no ceremony, no flag over the coffin. Only the airport firefighters did their bit to honor him, hoisting flags on their ladder trucks. "I just wanted to scream," Mrs. Eisenhauer said. "My son was owed that. He was owed that." Insensitivity Surrounded Return of Pinckneyville's Fallen Son, Wyatt Eisenhauer Friday, October 14, 2005 11:04 PM CDT After Gay and Fred Eisenhauer of Pinckneyville learned their son had been killed while serving in Iraq in May, the couple traveled to the cargo area at Lambert Airport in St. Louis to get his body. Army Pfc. Wyatt Eisenhauer's flag-draped coffin was delivered to his parents in a crate-filled area of the airport where workers on break sat nearby smoking cigarettes. For Gay Eisenhauer, it was an impersonal place to meet her 26-year-old son on his final trip home. "When we bring them home and we call them heroes, let's treat them like heroes all the way and not pull them into a cargo section and bring them home to the family that way. Let's make them heroes," she said Wednesday. She told the governor that when she and her husband were notified about their son's death, the officer delivering the heartbreaking news fumbled with paperwork in trying to determine which parts of the protocol applied to them. Other family members heard about the death in the news media instead of the Eisenhauers being given time to tell them. Gov. Rod Blagojevich and Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn have taken up the cause, meeting Wednesday with U.S. Army Secretary Francis Harvey and urging him to improve how the military works with families of those killed in the line of duty. "To have that reunifying moment in a place like that I think is symbolic of the need to change some of the policy so there's more sensitivity," Blagojevich said. Some of the suggestions Blagojevich and Quinn made to Harvey included better training for officers who interact with distraught families and prompt delivery of service members' medals and awards to surviving family. "Mistakes have been made and they need to be corrected immediately," Quinn said. "Our soldiers who have given their lives for our country and the families that raised them deserve not only the gratitude of Americans but the honor of a proper notification of the death of their loved one." Army spokesman Paul Boyce said the Army has been assessing how to improve the process of notifying families of the deaths of their loved ones. The review is expected to be done in January, he said. "Our largest concern is to make sure information is conveyed expeditiously and accurately to family members. We're looking at new ways to improve it throughout the Army," he said. Joan Neal, mother of 21-year-old Army Spc. Wesley Wells of Libertyville, said she has battled the Army for more than a year to get information since her son's September 2004 death in Afghanistan.The Gurnee woman said the Army also tried to change the date of her son's funeral because the timing of the flight to return her son's body to Illinois was inconvenient. She also said the Army did not arrive at her son's funeral in time to drape the flag over his casket, and the Army gave her a certificate incorrectly listing her son's service in Iraq instead of Afghanistan. Boyce said he could not address individual family concerns or provide details of Wednesday's meeting. But Quinn said Harvey acknowledged there was an "unevenness and inconsistency" with how casualty assistance officers notify family members of a death. According to Quinn, Harvey said the Army would assess the performance of casualty assistance officers and deploy mobile training teams to help the worst performers. Quinn said Harvey also planned to create a phone number military families can call if they are unhappy with how they were notified of a death. More than 100 Illinois men and women have given their last full measure of devotion during current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

  
  

• Sources

  [S927] Obituary. Thursday, May 26, 2005 6:49 AM CDT PINCKNEYVILLE - Dozens of flags line the streets of Pinckneyville in honor of hometown hero Wyatt Dale Eisenhauer. Tragically, the talented and beloved young man won't see the red, white and blue whipping in the wind.Eisenhauer gave his all for his country on the Iraqi battlefield and as townspeople, relatives and comrades mourned their fallen friend and hero, funeral arrangements were announced Wednesday.Eisenhauer, 26, was killed May 19 in Mahmudiyah, south of Baghdad, when an improved explosive device detonated on a bridge as the Humvee in which he was riding passed over. He was a member of the Army's 3rd brigade, 1st Armor Division's "Thunderbolt" Second Battalion, 70th Armor Regiment out of Fort Riley, Kan.Eisenhauer was a scout and his military friends recall that he didn't fit the mold of a regular soldier but left a successful civilian business to serve his country."He was self-retired," said Sgt. First Class Matthew Mayo in a press release from Iraq. "He joined the military to be part of something larger than himself. With less than 11 months in the Army, he was one of the most technically proficient scouts in the platoon. He digested technical manuals like no other."Mayo also said despite Eisenhauer's difficult job in a war zone, the young man was very compassionate."He could be counted on by all of his peers and would give them the shirt off of his back," Mayo said. "He was a true patriot,serving his country when others in his position could not or would not.""He gave his life for a higher purpose, to serve his country and help the Iraqi people pave the way for a brighter future," added Col. David Bishop, commander of the 3rd Brigade.As Eisenhauer's comrades overseas were mourning their friend, the Perry County man's family was in route to Fort Riley for a memorial service in honor of the family's only son.The close-knit family of Gay and Fred Eisenhauer also includes Wyatt's sisters, Rebecca Eisenhauer Anderson (the wife of Willie Anderson), Hannah and Leah, as well as grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews. Wyatt's father, Fred, crafted the obituary that gives a glimpse into the heart and life of his son."Wyatt Dale Eisenhauer loved the outdoors, rock climbing and camping, he thoroughly enjoyed fishing as well as kayaking down Beaucoup Creek and loved animals, especially his bird Jake," Fred Eisenhauer wrote.Wyatt Eisenhauer graduated from Pinckneyville Community High School, where he was a member of the Panther wrestling team, band, and VICA. He placed first in the state VICA Diesel Equipment Technician Competition and attended the Southern Illinois University Carbondale automotive mechanic program.With a love of music, Eisenhauer played the trumpet, guitar, baritone and piano and set up sound systems and ran sound boards for a number of local bands.He joined the Army in 2004, following in the footsteps of his father and his late grandfather, Fred "Fritz" Eisenhauer. After basic training at Fort Knox, Ky., he was stationed at Fort Riley before deployment to Iraq. Less than a year later, he was killed by enemy weaponry.Visitation for Eisenhauer will be from 3 to 9 p.m. Sunday and from 8 to 10 a.m. Monday at Pyatt-Harrawood Funeral Home in Pinckneyville. The family will hold his funeral services at 11 a.m. Monday at their homestead at 4533 Red Fox Road, in the beautiful outdoors Wyatt so loved. Burial will be in Antioch Cemetery in Tamaroa.Memorials will be accepted at the funeral home or Murphy-Wall State Bank to create the Wyatt Eisenhauer Memorial Fund. The fund is being created to provide future scholarships and for educational development."We are extremely proud of Wyatt Dale Eisenhauer, who, in the words of his family was a 'very humble young man, a private person with wisdom beyond his years, who made his supreme sacrifice for our nation and family he loved,'" Fred Eisenhauer penned in tribute to his son. [S927] Obituary. Eisenhauer told comrades he was 'paying back' BY CHRISTI MATHIS Sunday, May 29, 2005 12:55 AM CDT FOR THE SOUTHERNPINCKNEYVILLE - Giving was synonymous with Wyatt Dale Eisenhauer, according to his fellow soldiers. The young man from Pinckneyville gave his all in Iraq and as his earthly body was returning to his hometown, the community and his comrades overseas expressed their sorrow at the loss of the talented 26-year-old."He told me, 'Sergeant, I promised myself a long time ago if I was ever successful on the outside I'd go on the inside and pay it back,'" said Staff Sgt. Jeremy Strasser, Eisenhauer's former section sergeant. "He paid it back and then some."Strasser also said after Eisenhauer joined the Army on June 2, 2004, he focused on being the best soldier he could possibly be and it showed."He was always trying to improve himself by studying," Strasser said. "Any source of Army information, doctrine, whatever, he would read it and he would remember it."Family was a big priority for Eisenhauer, his fellow soldiers recall."He was an outstanding brother," Strasser said. "He cared for his sisters to no end."Pfc. Eisenhauer was the only son of Gay and Fred Eisenhauer. His survivors include sisters Rebecca Eisenhauer Anderson (wife of Willie Anderson), Hannah and Leah, as well as grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews. Wyatt Eisenhauer was killed by enemy fire May 19 at Mahmudiyah, south of Baghdad, when an improvised explosive device detonated on a bridge as his Humvee passed. Others were injured in the attack that killed Eisenhauer.He was a member of the Army's 3rd brigade, 1st Armor Division's "Thunderbolt" 2nd Battalion, 70th Armor Regiment based at Fort Riley, Kan., and those who fought with him say they have lost an integral part of their unit and their lives."The Army is down another prodigious soldier, one that taught me a lot, and inspired others to think outside the box," said Capt. Anton Kemps, platoon leader of 2-70 Armor's scout platoon."Without him, the mission at hand becomes increasingly more difficult.""He believed in his country and our mission," said Lt. Col. Leopoldo Quintas, commander of the 2-70 Armor Battalion. "I'm proud to say his fight was with us here.""He'll be sorely missed by his friends, family and his extended family - the scout platoon," Strasser said. "We lost a great cavalry trooper and we lost one hell of a man."A cavalry scout, Eisenhauer's duties included leading, serving, or assisting as a member of a scout crew, squad, section, or platoon in reconnaissance, security and other combat operations and he did his job well, said his fellow soldiers.Deployed to Iraq on Feb. 3, Eisenhauer earned the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.Eisenhauer was honored at a special service in Iraq May 24 and at Fort Riley this week. Pinckneyville is mourning the loss of one of its own. Flags line the streets and signs are everywhere. "God Bless Wyatt Eisenhauer" reads a sign beneath an American flag. Others remind townspeople to pray for the Eisenhauer family."Pray for our soldiers," proclaims one banner, a thought that's on many a mind in Pinckneyville as the visitation for the city's fallen hero is held at Pyatt-Harrawood Funeral Home in Pinckneyville from 3 to 9 p.m. today and from 8 to 10 a.m. Monday. Funeral services will be held outdoors at 11 a.m. Monday at the family's rural home at 4533 Red Fox Road. Burial will be in Antioch Cemetery in Tamaroa.As Memorial Day approaches, his family and community mourn Eisenhauer, recalling his dedication as a musician, mechanic, soldier and friend. Birth: Jun. 14, 1978 Pinckneyville Perry County Illinois, USA Death: May 19, 2005, Iraq Pfc. Wyatt D. Eisenhauer of Pinckneyville, Ill, was a scout and his military friends recall that he didn't fit the mold of a regular soldier but left a successful civilian business to serve his country. He joined the military to be part of something larger than himself. With less than 11 months in the Army, he was one of the most technically proficient scouts in the platoon. He digested technical manuals like no other. Wyatt loved the outdoors, rock climbing and camping. He thoroughly enjoyed fishing as well as kayaking down Beaucoup Creek and loved animals, especially his bird Jake. He graduated from Pinckneyville Community High School, where he was a member of the Panther wrestling team, band, and VICA. He placed first in the state VICA Diesel Equipment Technician Competition and attended the Southern Illinois University Carbondale automotive mechanic program. With a love of music, he played the trumpet, guitar, baritone and piano and set up sound systems and ran sound boards for a number of local bands. He joined the Army in 2004, following in the footsteps of his father and his late grandfather, Fred "Fritz" Eisenhauer. After basic training at Fort Knox, Ky., he was stationed at Fort Riley before deployment to Iraq. Less than a year later, he was killed by enemy weaponry. Despite his difficult job in a war zone, the young man was very compassionate. He died in Mahmudiyah, Iraq, on an escort mission in a HMMWV when an improvised explosive device detonated on a bridge at age 26. Army 2nd Battalion, 70th Armor, 3rd Brigade, 1st Armored Division, Fort Riley, Kansas. Burial: Antioch Cemetery Tamaroa Perry County Illinois, USA Created by: Caroline Record added: May 05, 2006 Find A Grave Memorial# 14177538