Robert S Eppich - OurWarHeroes.org - Tribute sites by Q Madp

Robert Scott Eppich

Mesa, Arizona

December 19, 2006

Age	Military	Rank	Unit/Location
25	Army	Sgt	204th MP Co.

Served 1 year in Iraq, 1 year in Afghanistan and 1 year in Korea. Killed stateside in a vehicle accident in Eastland Texas. He was born May 29, 1981..

From Lea & Ron Eppich 05/03/07:

Even though he did not die in combat, he was truly a hero, and at his memorial, his commanding officer said that his actions in Baghdad during combat operations had saved many lives.
Just as one example, Robert was manning a check point during the night with his unit, when the lights of an approaching vehicle revealed several insurgents with weapons sneaking up on his post. Robert led his team in an attack, killing several insurgents and saving the lives of the Soldiers under his command.

Robert served in Egypt and North Korea with the 82nd Airborne Division, and Afghanistan and Iraq as a Military Policeman.

Robert was awarded the Army Commendation Medal and the Meritorious Service Medal posthumously.

I have attached a few of my favorite pictures of Robert. Robert was the youngest of five children, and in his childhood, we called him Mr. Mischief. He was always getting his brothers and sisters into trouble, and then standing back to watch.

Robert was a member of his high school cross country team, and a member of the Army ROTC program. Robert was interested in the Renaissance period, and especially in the Knights Templar.

From Ronald Eppich 04/28/07:

Robert was an MP. He served a year in Korea, a year in Afghanistan, and a year in Iraq. He received several military awards for his outstanding work while training Iraqi forces, and on at least one occasion was awarded special recognition for his performance while on a Baghdad night patrol, in that his vigilance in recognizing an ambush and quick action in response to the circumstances prevented any injury or loss of life to his men, while at the same time capturing and killing the would-be ambushers.

Robert died in a single vehicle accident just eight days after returning to the United States. The accident can be directly attributed to problems Robert was experiencing as a result of his experiences while serving in Iraq. Robert was not killed in Iraq, but Iraq killed Robert.

You can see the pictures of Robert's PGR escort in the Arizona section of the Photo Gallery in the PGR site.

At his funeral, Robert was presented the Army Commendation Medal and the Meritorious Service Award.

FORT POLK, La. – Fort Polk’s 204th Military Police Company, 519th Military Police Battalion, 1st Combat Support Brigade (ME) will hold a memorial service for Sgt. Robert S. Eppich, 25, from Mesa, Ariz., at 11:30 a.m., Thursday, Jan. 18, at the Main Post Chapel, here.
Eppich was killed in a vehicle accident outside of Dallas Dec. 19, 2006 while driving back to Fort Polk, La. from Texas.
Eppich was a military policeman assigned to the 204 th
MP Co., which recently returned from a year-long deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, where he was assigned as a driver with the 3rd Platoon “Shadow Warriors”.
“Sgt. Eppich’s was a quiet professional that will be missed and never forgotten by his “Shadow Warrior” family,” said Captain Robert Rodock, 204 th MP Co. commander.

“His memory will forever be honored by the members of the 204th MP Co. ‘Bladerunners’ and 519th ‘Vipers’.”
The public is invited to attend the memorial service