Freedom Remembered

Born: October 5, 1975
Died: April 30, 2008 in Baghdad, Iraq

Cpt. Andrew. R. Pearson of Billings, Montana attended Valley View Elementary, a local middle school and was a freshman at C.M. Russell High School before the family moved to Billings in 1991, graduating from Billings Senior High. After graduation, he worked for Lockwood IGA. He played football growing up and loved to hunt and fish. Andrew entered the military in June of 1998 and was a graduate of the United States Military Academy. For the 2001 academy yearbook, Andy chose a quote from President John F. Kennedy to accompany his photo: “In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger. I do not shrink from this responsibility, I welcome it.” His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, American Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Air Assault, Combat Infantry Badge, Expert Infantry Badge, Parachutist Badge, and the Ranger Tab. Drew loved Montana. Hunting, fishing and bike-riding were some of his favorite pastimes. He lived life to the fullest and was even know to take part in a “Great Jackalope Hunt.” He also was an avid Dallas Cowboys fan, no matter how hard his dad tried to convert him. He died at age 32 in Baghdad, Iraq, from wounds suffered when their vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device. Also killed was Spc. Ronald J. Tucker. Drew is survived by his wife, Jon Marie; children Danny, Gaby, Cheyenne and Kristopher, father Ronald (Sandy) Pearson, mother Sue (Shawn) Scott, stepmother Rene (Jay) Johnson,; sisters Heather and Jennifer; brothers Wayne and Hugh; grandparents Carlton and Irene Pearson, and Julian and Yvonne Kobasziar, uncles Jack Kobasziar, Alex Pearson and Bob Wigdorski, and an aunt, Kathleen Reed.
Army
1st Battalion
22nd Infantry Regiment
1st Brigade Combat Team
4th Infantry Division
Fort Hood, Texas

Burial is at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia – Sec 8-GG Row 13 Site 3

The Capt Andrew Reuben Pearson by Freedom Remembered, unless otherwise expressly stated, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 United States License.