Born on September 22, 1976, GySgt Edward Schrank grew up in Wildwood, Illinois. He enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1996. In November 2007, GySgt Schrank suffered a head injury, and a CAT scan detected a rare form of cancer of the tear ducts. This was a direct result of being exposed to toxic chemicals in military jet fuel from 1998 to May 2003. He subsequently underwent eight major surgeries, including the removal of his left eye along with part of his skull. He left the Marines in 2012.

At one point, GySgt Schrank was told it would be impossible for him to ever speak again. He decided that he would not only learn to speak again, but to sing — and not just in the shower. He set a goal to sing the U.S. national anthem for the NFL. After months of exhaustive training, he succeeded and went on to perform the anthem for major league baseball, NASCAR, and NFL audiences across the U.S.

GySgt Schrank passed away November 17, 2024. Friends commented that to know Eddy was to love him – his kindness, warmth, and ability to light up a room left an indelible mark on everyone he met. He had a way of making people feel valued, heard, and truly seen.

GySgt Schrank is survived by his wife, Yoshie and his children Sora, Eddy III, and Lyndon.