Andrew C. Wilfahrt

3/552nd MP Company

KIA 02/27/2011

Specialist Andrew Wilfahrt was serving in the 3/552nd MP Company "Punishers",
attached to Company A 1-22 Infantry, when he made the ultimate sacrifice
for his unit and his country.

Officials at the Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting
Operation Enduring Freedom, Afghanistan.

Spc. Andrew C. Wilfahrt, 31, of Rosemount, Minnesota, died Feb. 27, 2011,in Kandahar province, Afghanistan,
of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using an improvised explosive device.

He was assigned to the 504th Military Police Battalion, 8th Military Police Brigade,
8th Theater Sustainment Command, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.

Andrew Wilfahrt holds the guidon for his unit as they prepare to deploy
to Afghanistan, 2010.

Slain Rosemount Soldier Returned To U.S. Monday Night
The body of fallen Rosemount High graduate Spc. Andrew C. Wilfahrt arrived at Dover Air Force base Monday evening.
By Rick Ellis

Rosemount High School graduate Spc. Andrew C. Wilfahrt, 31, died on Feb. 27 in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan,
of wounds suffered during an improvised explosive device attack on his patrol.

His body arrived at Dover Air Force Base Monday evening, and his family traveled to Delaware to receive his body in a "dignified transfer."

A dignified transfer is a highly structured procedure in which the remains of the fallen military member are returned to Dover
by the most expedient means possible. Once the aircraft lands at Dover, a carry team of military personnel from the fallen member's
respective service transfers the remains to a waiting mortuary transport vehicle. They are then taken to the post mortuary
and ultimately released to the custody of the family.

According to Dept. of Defense policies, a dignified transfer is conducted for every U.S. military member who dies in the theater of operation
while in the service of their country. A senior ranking officer of the fallen member's service presides over each transfer.

The event was closed to the media until March 2009, when the Secretary of Defense announced a change in policy that,
upon consent of the family of the deceased, allowed media access to cover dignified transfers.

Wilfahrt's family gave their consent for representatives of the media to cover his dignified transfer.

from the Rosemount Patch

http://rosemount.patch.com/articles/what-is-a-dignified-transfer-video

A U.S. Army carry team transfers the remains of Army Specialist Andrew Wilfahrt
at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, February 28, 2011.

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SPC Andrew Wilfahrt's decorations

Specialist Andrew C. Wilfahrt

Cpl. Andrew C. Wilfahrt, 31, of Rosemount, Minnesota

Spc. Andrew Wilfahrt died Sunday, February 27th when insurgents attacked his unit with a bomb in Kandahar province.
He was assigned to the 504th Military Police Battalion, 8th Military Police Brigade in Hawaii. He enlisted in the Army in January 2009
and was deployed to Afghanistan last July.

Andrew Wilfahrt graduated from Rosemount High School in 1997 where he was a diligent student who loved music
and performed in choir and was a member of the marching band.

In his hometown of Rosemount, word of his death spread quickly Monday. Shelia Wandersee lives in the cul-de-sac
where Wilfahrt's parents reside. Wandersee says she remembers the melodies that would drift across the street
when Wilfahrt was playing the piano.

Rosemount veterinarian Kurt Hansen said his son, Simon, was a close friend of Wilfahrt's from grade school on.
They shared interests in music, computers and pondering world affairs.

When they were together, then they would talk all night. He was just like one of ours. It's difficult to talk about.
Wilfahrt was bubbly and outgoing, Hansen said, even stepping up to speak before the City Council to support the Hansen family
in a disagreement over eminent domain.

He was really exceptional. It's so sad that it had to go this way.
His uncle, Charlie Wilfahrt of Minneapolis, says his nephew was a talented musician who had found purpose in life in the Army.

From Andrew's obituary:

Andrew was a remarkable man. He was compassionate, smart and witty. He was an admirer, composer and player of music
who believed deeply in art and humanity. Andrew deeply loved his family and friends and we love him. We will never forget him.
Cpl Andrew C. Wilfahrt is survived and sadly missed by parents Jeff and Lori; sister Martha and brother Peter of Rosemount, MN;
grandparents, Ruth and Leo Wilfahrt and Elizabeth Schaefer of New Ulm; many loving relatives and friends and
the 3rd platoon 552nd MP Battalion U.S. Army. His funeral will be held on March 4th.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/03/03/951695/-IGTNT:Four-SoldiersNo-Greater-Love

Daily Kos

IGTNT: Four Soldiers - No Greater Love

Thu Mar 03, 2011 at 08:17 PM EST.

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Cpl. Andrew Charles Wilfahrt, a 31-year-old native of Rosemount, Minn., was killed Feb. 27, in Kandahar City,
when his squad struck an improvised explosive device while conducting a combat foot patrol.
Wilfahrt was assigned to 552nd Military Police Company, 504th Military Police Battalion, currently attached to
1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, while deployed. When not deployed, the 552nd MP Company is assigned to
the 728th Military Police Battalion, 8th Military Police Brigade, 8th Theater Sustainment Command, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.

Birth: May 7, 1979
Minnesota, USA
Death: Feb. 27, 2011
Kandahar, Afghanistan

Cpl. Andrew C. Wilfahrt, 31, of Rosemount, Minn., died Feb. 27, in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered
when insurgents attacked his unit using an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 504th Military Police Battalion,
8th Military Police Brigade, 8th Theater Sustainment Command, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. He is survived and sadly missed
by parents Jeff and Lori, sister Martha and brother Peter of Rosemount MN, many loving relatives and friends and
the 3rd platoon 552nd MP Battalion U.S. Army. He was preceded in death by Chuck and Al.

Burial:
Fort Snelling National Cemetery
Minneapolis
Hennepin County
Minnesota, USA
Plot: Section 27 Site 1133

Grave marker for Andrew C. Wilfahrt

Photo by: Steve Edquist ~In Memory Of Aaron & Scrappy~
from the Find A Grave website

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For tributes to Andrew Wilfahrt click on the following links:

Rest In Peace SPC Andrew Wilfahrt

The Story of Cpl. Andrew Wilfahrt

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