Pro Snocross Racer & Army SGT Devin Denman to Honor Wisconsin Army Engineers

Specialist Bert Edwards Hoyer proudly served in the United States Army Reserve as part of an engineering unit, answering the call to serve during the early years of Operation Iraqi Freedom. A native of Ellsworth, Wisconsin, Bert represented the quiet strength and commitment found in small communities across our nation—men and women who step forward without hesitation when duty calls.

As an Army engineer, SPC Hoyer’s mission was clear and demanding: support mobility and construction operations in a combat environment so others could move forward safely. On March 10, 2004, while serving in Baghdad, Iraq, SPC Hoyer was killed in action during an enemy attack while performing his assigned duties. He was  performing the work that engineers are known for—building, supporting, and protecting others in one of the most dangerous operating environments of the war.

Those who served alongside him remembered Bert as dependable, disciplined, and committed to his team. He embodied the values of the Army Reserve engineer community: showing up, doing the work, and placing mission and fellow Soldiers before self.

SPC Bert Hoyer’s sacrifice is honored as part of the Operation Vet NOW Fallen Heroes Tribute Project, which exists to ensure that the names, stories, and service of those who never made it home are never forgotten. His legacy lives on not only in the memory of his family and hometown, but in every act of remembrance that carries his name forward.

He served. He sacrificed. He is remembered.

Devin Denman — 

  OVN Ambassador Athlete
Professional Snocross Racer | Pro+30 Series Champion | Pro-Lite Competitor | U.S. Army Reserve SGT

For Devin Denman, the 2026 Amsoil Championship Snocross season is about far more than competition. It is about service, remembrance, and carrying forward the legacy of Soldiers who never made it home.

Devin serves in the U.S. Army Reserve, assigned to an engineering unit, and is also a professional snocross racer competing in the AMSOIL Championship Snocross Series. He has deployed to Afghanistan, where he experienced firsthand what it means to step outside the wire, trust the Soldiers beside you, and accept the risks that come with the mission.

In 2026, Devin is dedicating his entire racing season to honoring SPC Bert Edwards Hoyer and five other Wisconsin Army Reserve Soldiers who were killed in action. All six served in Army Reserve engineering units—units like Devin’s—performing demanding missions that required them to go first so others could move forward.

“As engineers, we clear the way,” Devin says. “We go first so others can move forward—knowing the risk, accepting it, and doing the job anyway. That’s what they did.”

Throughout the season, Devin will carry the names of these six fallen Soldiers on his snowmobile at every race, including the season opener in Ironwood, Michigan, and across the national tour. This dedication is part of the Operation Vet NOW Fallen Heroes Tribute Project, a mission to ensure that the names, stories, and sacrifices of fallen service members continue to be seen, said, and remembered.

For Devin, this tribute is deeply personal. These Soldiers came from the same state he calls home. They wore the same uniform. They served in the same kind of units. And they paid the ultimate price.

“They’re not just names,” Devin says. “They’re my brothers. And they ride with me.”

Through sport, service, and remembrance, SGT Devin Denman represents what the Fallen Heroes Tribute Project is about—honoring those who never made it home while carrying their legacy forward in visible, meaningful ways.