1st. Lt. Andrew K. Stern, U.S.M.C (KIA)

Friends Remember UT Grad Killed in Iraq

As we first told you Sunday, a UT grad, is the latest casualty in the war in Iraq.

Andrew Stern was killed near Fallujah just four-weeks before he was set to return home to Memphis.

Today, those who knew him are remembering the life of this Marine who spent several years here in East Tennessee.

Andrew Stern dreamed of becoming a Marine, and his fraternity Brother Nick Jackson says he lived to see that dream come true.

“The proudest day I've ever seen him was when he was commissioned after his graduation,” says Nick Jackson, Beta Theta Pi Fraternity.

It was here 3-years ago, at the Beta Theta Pi Fraternity on the UT campus that Andy, as his friends called him, began showing his first signs of leadership.

“I don't think there's a person in this fraternity who wouldn't say they joined because of him he's so energetic he love this place so much,” adds Jackson.

But those who knew him say his enthusiasm for life spilled over into everything he did, his position on the UT rowing team, even his work, and Jeremy Nordberg worked along side andy at Copper Cellar.

“He definitely had leadership qualities that other people would follow lead by example very hard worker,” says Jeremy Nordberg, says Sterns' co-worker.

And Andy's quirky way of setting tables here at the restaurant almost 3 years ago, are still being passed on to new employees today.

“We had some newer people down there setting tables up I was think about Andy how he showed me put the knife down like your cutting the napkins,” says Nordberg.

His friends say now that he's gone, it would be Andy's military career he would want them to talk about, his love for freedom, liberty and his country.

“You couldn't look at him and not know he was a Marine his haircut, his attitude, his energy he was a Marine all the way,” adds Nordberg.

“We're very blessed to have people like that defending our country to leave their families it's real when something like this happens,” says Jackson.

Andrew stern was 24-years old.  His memorial will be in Memphis on Tuesday, and he will be buried in Arlington National Cemetery.