INDIANAPOLIS, Ind.– The body of Staff Sgt. Andrew Michael St. John returned home Thursday night.
St. John, 29, of Greenwood, served as an infantryman with Company B, 1st Battalion, 151st Infantry Regiment, Indiana Army National Guard. He was on orders as an embedded observer controller/trainer with Army National Guard Operations Group Wolf.
He died on Aug. 15 in a tactical vehicle accident Thursday night in Fort Hood, Texas, according to the National Guard.
Thursday night, the Indiana National Guard Ceremonial Unit received the body at the Indianapolis International Airport during a plane-side honors ceremony before a procession to his hometown of Martinsville.
“It’s important for us to realize these young men and women are all volunteers, and every one of those people serves and protects 100 people in the United States, it’s a 1 in 100 deal, 1 percent serves to protect the other 99 and people need to realize that’s a big commitment on young shoulders,” said Bruce McKee, with Indiana Spirit of ’45, one of many to line the procession route.
St. John previously deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. His awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal, two Army Achievement Medals, the Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the NATO Medal and Indiana Military Volunteer Emblem. He was a proud father and husband.
A public visitation is planned for 3 – 8 p.m. on Friday, August 23, at Hoosier Harvest Church in Martinsville.
He will be laid to rest in New South Park Cemetery in Martinsville. Funeral services are private.