Pennsylvania National Guard soldier killed in off-duty accident
March 19th, 2010 - 12:44 am ICT by BNO News ( 1 comment )HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA (BNO NEWS) — A Pennsylvania National Guard soldier was killed Wednesday in an off-duty accident, the reserve military force said Thursday.
Sgt. 1st Class Mark A. Eberly, 39, from Bernville, Berks County, was running along Route 183 when he was hit from behind by a car. He was pronounced dead at the scene as he was training to run in the National Guard Bureau marathon in Little Rock, Arkansas, in May.
Eberly was a member of the Pennsylvania National Guard’s Recruiting and Retention Command. An 18-year veteran, he joined the Army in 1992, and served at Fort Hood, Texas, after graduating from Bloom High School in Chicago, Illinois. There, he became a medical specialist.
Eberly was promoted and assigned as an emergency treatment sergeant, after serving a six-month tour in Honduras. He then served as a Battalion Aid Station non-commissioned officer in charge under the Allied Forces Central Europe command in the Netherlands, where he became a drill sergeant in 2000. He was responsible for training future Army medics.
In November 2005, Eberly joined the Pennsylvania Army National Guard and has since served in the active Guard and Reserve program. He spent two years as a recruiter and most recently served as a drill instructor in the Guard’s Recruit Sustainment Program.
“Mark was a dedicated soldier and loving father,” said Maj. Gen. Jessica Wright, commander, Pennsylvania National Guard. “His tragic death will leave a void in the Pennsylvania National Guard. Our deepest sympathies go out to Mark’s children, Thalia and John, and his entire family and many friends.”
Eberly numerous achievements include the Meritorious Service Medal, two Joint Service Commendation Medals, an Army Commendation Medal, two Joint Service Achievement Medals, five Army Achievement Medals, the Expert Field Medical Badge and the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal. He was also a graduate of the United States Army Airborne School.
The incident is currently under investigation by the Pennsylvania State Police.
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Tags: army airborne, army commendation medal, army medics, army national guard, berks county, bloom high school, deepest sympathies, drill instructor, drill sergeant, eberly, harrisburg pennsylvania, jessica wright, little rock arkansas, meritorious service medal, military outstanding volunteer service medal, outstanding volunteer service medal, pennsylvania army, pennsylvania national guard, recruit sustainment program, volunteer service
April 17th, 2010 at 9:26 am
What a tragic irony that this dedicated Sgt. died this way. It sounds like the National Guard and the country lost a great soldier. Deepest condolences to his family who have many reasons to be proud of his service.