Rep. Hartzlerleads effort to rename Columbia post office

U.S. Rep. Vicky Hartzler says she has been asked to sponsor legislation to rename the post office in downtown Columbia.

Hartzler said she has met with and spoken to Randy and Sherry Wyatt about naming the post office after their late son, Spc. Sterling William Wyatt.

At the age of 21, Spc. Wyatt was killed July 11, 2012, while on patrol in Kandahar province, Afghanistan. His vehicle was attacked with an enemy improvised explosive device.

According to his obituary, Sterling was born Sept. 4, 1990, and attended Shepard Boulevard Elementary School, Lange Middle School, Oakland Junior High School. He graduated in 2009 from Rock Bridge High School. Sterling was assigned as a gunner to the 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Joint Base Lewis-McCord, Washington (January 2011). Sterling was promoted from private first class to specialist four days before his death. He has been awarded the Combat Infantry Badge, Medal of Valor, the Bronze Star, the National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with campaign star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Ribbon, NATO Medal and Certificate of Achievement.

Click here for details on the post office renaming process.