Army 1st Sgt. Billy J. Siercks

Died September 28, 2011 Serving During Operation Enduring Freedom

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32, of Velda Village, Mo., died Sept. 28 in Landstuhl, Germany, of wounds suffered Sept. 27 in Logar, Afghanistan when insurgents attacked his unit using indirect fire. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 10th Aviation Regiment, 10th Combat Aviation Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y.

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Missouri governor orders flags lowered to honor fallen soldier

The Associated Press

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Gov. Jay Nixon has ordered flags at all state buildings and the city of St. Louis to be flown at half-staff Thursday to honor a soldier who died in Afghanistan.

Thirty-two-year-old 1st Sgt. Billy Joe Siercks of Lincoln will be buried Thursday at Arlington National Cemetery.

Siercks died Oct. 1 of wounds he suffered when his unit was attacked in Logar, Afghanistan.

Nixon on Tuesday also ordered that U.S. and Missouri flags at all state buildings in Benton County be flown at half-staff from Nov. 12 to Nov. 17.

Siercks was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 10th Aviation Regiment, 10th Combat Aviation Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, New York.