Evan A Bixler
Date of Death: 12/24/2006
Age: 21
Incident Location: Hit, Iraq
Hometown: Racine
Branch of Service: Army
Unit: 1st Battalion, 6th Infantry, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division
Unit Base: Baumholder, Germany
Pfc. Evan A. Bixler, 21, of Racine, Wis., died December 24 in Hit, Iraq, of wounds suffered from enemy indirect fire during security operations. Evan was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 6th Infantry, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Baumholder, Germany.
While in Iraq, Evan A. Bixler was given the nickname "Ton of Fun." At boot camp and in Iraq, "Evan was notorious for lifting the spirits of those around him as he did throughout his life," his family said. "Fellow soldiers said that if it were not for Evan, his sense of humor and positive attitude, basic training would have been much more difficult to complete." He was a 2003 high school graduate and was assigned to Baumholder, Germany. That March, he told his parents he wanted to seek a medical waiver to enlist. "He said to us, 'I don't want to be 30 years old and have regrets,'" said his mother, Lisa. "He was reaching for his dreams." He was initially not allowed to enlist because of sclerosis in his back.
Denied again at a Milwaukee recruiting office, he switched to a Chicago office and was allowed in. "The recruiter said to him, 'You know, Evan, I've had people work this hard to get out of the Army. I've never known anyone work this hard to get into the Army,'" said his mother.. Along with his parents, he leaves behind an older sister, Amy.
While in Iraq, Evan A. Bixler was given the nickname "Ton of Fun." At boot camp and in Iraq, "Evan was notorious for lifting the spirits of those around him as he did throughout his life," his family said. "Fellow soldiers said that if it were not for Evan, his sense of humor and positive attitude, basic training would have been much more difficult to complete." He was a 2003 high school graduate and was assigned to Baumholder, Germany. That March, he told his parents he wanted to seek a medical waiver to enlist. "He said to us, 'I don't want to be 30 years old and have regrets,'" said his mother, Lisa. "He was reaching for his dreams." He was initially not allowed to enlist because of sclerosis in his back.
Denied again at a Milwaukee recruiting office, he switched to a Chicago office and was allowed in. "The recruiter said to him, 'You know, Evan, I've had people work this hard to get out of the Army. I've never known anyone work this hard to get into the Army,'" said his mother.. Along with his parents, he leaves behind an older sister, Amy.