WARSAW, MO, US
U.S. Army
1SG, CO F, 2ND BN (ASSAULT), 10TH AVIATION RGT, 10TH COMBAT AV BDE, FT DRUM, NY
09/28/2011, LANDSTUHL, GERMANY
First Sergeant Billy J. Siercks died on October 1, 2011 in Landstuhl, Germany of wounds suffered in Logar, Afghanistan on September 27, 2011 when insurgents attacked his unit. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 10th Aviation Regiment of the 10th Mountain Division’s 10th Combat Aviation Brigade, based at Fort Drum, New York. He and his unit were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
Billy Sierks was born and raised in Lincoln, Missouri, just south of Sedalia in west-central Missouri. He was stationed at Fort Drum, New York. He and his wife and two young sons also have connections to Nokesville, Virginia. He enlisted in the military during his senior year at Lincoln High School and eventually became part of the elite group of Army Rangers. He had served several tours of duty in countries including Iraq and Afghanistan, and had only a few weeks left in Afghanistan.
First Sergeant Sierks loved the camaraderie and the closeness with his fellow soldiers. He also loved being part of his Army unit leadership and died in the process of directing his soldiers to safety. He was a much loved leader and strongly believed in the work he was doing and in the missions his unit and soldiers supported. It was important to him to provide support, guidance and care to his soldiers and especially to those service members who had not had the strongest family lives or who had come from rough environments.
Ultimately, his plans were to return to Lincoln, Missouri, open a small business and build a home on the family farm. In his honor flags on state government buildings be flown at half-staff on Wednesday, October 5, 2011. He rests at Arlington National Cemetery.
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