Staff Sgt. Michael A. Bechert, a soldier based in Schweinfurt, Germany, died in an Army hospital in Texas on Thursday, a little more than two weeks after he was wounded in Baghdad, the Defense Department announced Sunday.
Bechert, 24, a member of the 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment “Vanguards,” was injured May 30 by a makeshift bomb that killed three other soldiers in his vehicle. The unit is part of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division.
Bechert died at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, according to The Star Press newspaper in Muncie, Ind. He briefly attended high school in New Castle, Ind., according to the paper.
“He was a great father, husband,” Daniela Bechert, the fallen soldier’s wife, told television station WTHR, an NBC affiliate, in Indianapolis. “He fought for his country and died for it.”
The couple met in Germany and had a son, Branden Andrew, who is 20 months old.
Bechert was raised by his grandparents, George and Doris Bechert. George Bechert told the station he didn’t understand why he was planning a funeral instead of a welcome home party.
“Why did we go into Iraq, explain this to me. Why did we go in there when there was nothing there?” George Bechert told WTHR. “Why are we doing this? Why are we killing off our young men? It’s not worth it, not worth it.”
Bechert was serving his second deployment in Iraq when he was wounded, his grandfather said.
He was awarded a Purple Heart for wounds suffered during his first tour of duty. He will be buried next to his mother, Angela Bechert, who died as a young woman, according to The Star Press.
Sgt. Bacilio E. Cuellar, Spc. James E. Lundin and Pfc. Joshua M. Moore were killed May 30 in the attack that led to Bechert’s death. There is a memorial service today at 10 a.m. at the Ledward Barracks chapel in Schweinfurt for the three soldiers.
Information regarding a memorial service for Bechert was not available by deadline Tuesday.
