Corporal Eckert was a member of the Intelligence and Reconnaissance Platoon, 278th Infantry Regimental Combat team and a passenger on the attack transport "USS Ruchamkin" (APD-89) returning from a two-week amphibious training exercise off the coast of Virginia near Little Creek Naval Station. On the night of 14 November 1952, the transport was struck by a civilian oil tanker "SS WASHINGTON" killing five Army passengers.

Eckert was awarded the National Defense Service Medal.