Army Sgt. Spencer C. Akers
Death: Dec 08, 2005
of Traverse City Mich.; assigned to the 1st Battalion 125th Infantry Regiment Michigan Army National Guard Saginaw Mich.; Died Dec. 8 at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio of injuries sustained Nov. 21 when an improvised explosive device detonated near his Humvee during combat operations in Habbaniyah Iraq. Family: Michigan soldier wounded in Iraq dies The Associated Press TRAVERSE CITY Mich. — A member of the Army National Guard and veteran of the first Gulf War who was among a group of Michigan soldiers wounded last month in Iraq has Died his family says. Sgt. Spencer Akers35 of Traverse City Died Dec. 8 at Brooke Army Medical Center in Texas said Akers’ uncle George Akers of Manton. He was burned after his vehicle struck a land mine in Habbaniyah. “He was a darn good kid somebody every father would be proud of” George Akers told the Traverse City Record-Eagle. He said his nephew’s goal was to become a state police trooper. The soldier was on his second stint in Iraq believing it was the right thing to do the uncle said. “His thought was ‘Better me a single guy with no strings than a married man’ ” George Akers of Wexford County’s Liberty Township told the Detroit News. Akers’ mother Carole69 said her son was drawn to the military as a child wearing camouflage pajamas and playing with toy guns. “He’s always been fascinated by it” she told the Detroit Free Press. Pfc. John Dearing21 of Hazel Park Died Nov. 21 after the blast which also injured three other soldiers from Michigan. All five were with the Guard’s Saginaw-based 125th Infantry Regiment. “He said he wanted to do his part” George Akers said of his nephew. The Pentagon had not confirmed Akers’ death by early Dec. 12. Akers who previously lived in Tustin worked security in Traverse City for four years said Matt Mayer Akers’ roommate in Traverse City. Mayer said he met Akers when they served in the National Guard. “He was a great soldier a great leader he was always helping other people regardless of his own situation and what was going on in his life” Mayer said. Carole Akers and husband Don who live in Tustin traveled last month to the hospital in Texas to be with their son the Cadillac News reported. He was a graduate of Pine River High School. Mayer said he admired his friend’s decision to seek out deployment to Iraq. “He was trying for months to find a unit to go with and then when he found one he jumped right on it” Mayer said. A funeral tentatively was planned for Saturday at Covenant Life Church in Lake City. Operation Enduring Freedom