Ian Weikel was my best friend when we were lieutenants. A high school quarterback from Colorado Springs, Ian played rugby at West Point.

A year older and also married, Ian was my peer mentor. I looked up to him. We roomed together in Bosnia and grew mustaches the first month we were there. Our SXO hated them, but like we used to say, “good dudes, good times.” (I have a pic of us w/ the staches at my house in GA)

After skiing one weekend with our wives, we headed back to Colorado Springs in time to see Joan Jett open for Def Leppard. To say it was “epic” would be an understatement.

After the Armor Captains Career Course, Ian was assigned to 1 BCT, 4th ID. He was on the Bde staff when Saddam was captured.

In 2006 we were in different units and both deployed to Iraq. Ian was KIA 18 April 2006 when an IED struck his vehicle. His son was 8 months old. I was devastated. I sent his son my first edition Once An Eagle. His daddy was a Sam Damon.

For 14 years I’ve worn Ian’s KIA bracelet 24/7. Ian lives forever at a school on Fort Carson named in his honor. He also lives in the hearts of guys like me who loved him, and in the lives of those we’ve led.
He really was the best of all of us.
#MemorialDay2020