Andrew Maury Blake Otjen

Andrew graduated from The Woodlands High School, home of the Highlanders, in 1999, where he ran on the cross-country team. He went on to attend Oklahoma State University.

Andrew was a member of the Boy Scouts of America and earned the rank of Eagle Scout in his youth, a distinction that reflected the discipline and sense of duty that would define the rest of his life. He carried those values into the United States Army, where he served as a Combat Medic. Andrew was a proud "Rakkasan," serving with the legendary 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) — famously known as the "Screaming Eagles" — based at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

During his military career, Andrew deployed in support of the Global War on Terrorism and served in Iraq, earning the Iraq Campaign Medal with Campaign Star (2nd Award). He was awarded the Army Commendation Medal with two Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, and the Overseas Service Ribbon (2nd Award). In recognition of his service as a medic in combat, he earned the Combat Medical Badge.

Andrew was a kind soul who loved the outdoors, and found joy in camping, skiing, and mountain biking. He also loved music and movies, and had a gift for making the people around him laugh.

Andrew is survived by his parents, William John Otjen III and Debra Black Otjen, and his brother, William John Otjen IV.

He was preceded in death by his grandmothers, Elizabeth Nora Black of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and Eva Blake Otjen of Vail, Colorado, and his grandfathers, George Ronald Black of Ada, Oklahoma, and William John Otjen Jr. of Enid, Oklahoma.

Keep on flying, you big wonderful butterfly.

Service arrangements will be announced.