Army Specialist Edward L. Myers

Remember Our Heroes

Army Specialist Edward L. Myers, 21, of St. Joseph, Missouri.

Spc Myers died in Samarra, Iraq, where his unit was conducting patrol operations and an improvised explosive device detonated near his HMMWV. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Georgia.

Since he was a boy, Edward Myers wanted to follow in his grandfather's footsteps and join the Army. He wanted to be an airborne Ranger. Myers didn't play basketball or go hunting. "He had his goal set on being a soldier, and that was what he did," said his mother, Charlotte Dick.

Myers was the oldest of four children, and a holy terror, his mother said. Myers joined the Army while he was still in high school on the delayed entry program and entered service as soon as he graduated from high school.

At 20, he married Imojean Burns. Myers had known his wife since eighth grade. "We had a weird relationship in high school," she said. "We were really good friends, but at the same time we hated each other."

They started dating Feb. 7, 2004. Imojean moved to Fort Bragg with Myers on April 13, and by April 20 they were married. Eddie left for Iraq again six weeks after their daughter, Rebekah, was born. "Three weeks after I found out we were having a baby, he extended his enlistment," Imojean said.

Myers thought his second deployment would be easier because he knew the culture and the issues of Iraq. It would be better if he went than if the military had to send someone new.

"I was upset that I wouldn't be able to see him for so long, but he wanted to make sure other people were safe, not just the soldiers, but make sure Iraqis in towns around him were safe."

Army Specialist Edward L. Myers was killed in action on 07/27/05.