EATON — In February, soldiers from 69th Air Defense Artillery Brigade’s 1-44 Air Defense Artillery received Army Commendation Medals with a “C” device for their actions in defending Al Dhafra Air Base in Saudi Arabia. Among the honored soldiers was 2012 Eaton High School graduate Sam Borst Jr.
According to a post on the 69th Air Defense Artillery Brigade’s Facebook page, the “Strike First battalion successfully engaged and destroyed tactical ballistic missiles that were targeting an installation with over 2,000 service members on it. In addition to their award, they also received a combat patch.”
Borst Jr. played football for the Eagles, and attended and graduated with a bachelors degree from Thomas More College, where he also played football.
Borst Jr. enlisted in the Army to serve 4 years in 2019. According to his father, Sam Borst Sr., Sam Jr. graduated with honors from AIC training after his combat training in July 2020.”He was granted the Iron Warrior award because he scored the highest in the nation on the combat fitness,” Borst Sr. said of his son recently.
Sam Jr., who was based Saudi Arabia, was part of the 69th Air Defense’s Patriot Missile Program. “He intentionally lied to his grandma,” Borst Sr. said, noting Sam Jr. had told her he wouldn’t be in combat but behind a computer somewhere. “He was right in the thick of it,” the proud father said.
