Paul David Ekart

Paul David Ekart was from Ottumwa. He graduated from Ottumwa High School in 1965 and attended Northeast Missouri State University before joining the Navy. He started his tour in South Vietnam in October 1967, eventually earning the rank of Petty Officer Third Class. Taking after his father, an anesthesiologist, PO3 Ekart served as a hospital corpsman with the Ninth Marine Division. On January 26, 1968, PO3 Ekart was killed during Operation Badger Catch in Quang Tri Province, South Vietnam. His body was buried in Ottumwa Cemetery.