Army Specialist Andrew P. Daul

Remember Our Heroes

Army Specialist Andrew P. Daul, Sgt. Andrew P. Daul, 21, of Brighton, Mich.

Spc. Daul was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 37th Armored Regiment, 1st Brigade, 1st Armored Division, Friedberg, Germany. He died Dec. 19 in Hit, Iraq, of injuries suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his Abrams tank during combat operations.

Soldier killed in Iraq was avid, competitive bodybuilder

Associated Press

BRIGHTON -- U.S. Army Spc. Andrew Patrick Daul wasn't looking to make the military his lifelong career, his family said.

He was to leave Iraq in February following two tours, but died after an improvised explosive device went off near his tank.

"Everyone is very, very proud of Andrew," his father told the Ann Arbor News.

"Even though we always knew this is something that could happen, it's still shocking. We felt he was in a relatively safe place, if there is such a thing in Iraq."

Daul, 21, of Brighton died Tuesday Dec. 19, 2006, in Hit, Iraq, from the blast that went off near his Abrams tank, the Defense Department said in a statement.

While Daul worried about the hazards of war, he reassured his family he would be fine.

"We were obviously pretty much brought to our knees when soldiers came to our door," Daul's older brother, Michael, said about being notified of his brother's death.

"But we're surrounded by lots of family and friends."

Andrew Daul became interested in serving with the military during his senior year at Brighton High School.

He had served three and a half years and was looking forward to a discharge in July.

Daul was an avid and competitive bodybuilder.

He was fascinated by extreme sports such as skiing and snowboarding.

Along with his brother and parents, Daul is survived by two sisters and other relatives.

Daul served with the 1st Battalion, 37th Armored Regiment, 1st Brigade, 1st Armored Division, based in Friedberg, Germany.

He would have returned to the base in Germany in February, his father said.

Army Specialist Andrew P. Daul was killed in action on 12/19/06.