On Feb. 25, the armed forces positively identified the remains of Staff Sgt. Ahmed K. Altaie, of Ann Arbor, Mich. He was assigned to the Provincial Reconstruction Team, Divisional Training Center, Special Troops Battalion, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas. Altaie was kidnapped at gunpoint in October 2006 when he sneaked off base on a motorcycle to visit his Iraqi wife in central Baghdad. On Dec. 11, 2006, a casualty review board declared Altaie “missing – captured” after his disappearance in Baghdad, Iraq on Oct. 23, 2006. Altaie was the final missing soldier and casualty to be recovered from the Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation New Dawn mission.
To be updated…
Tech. Sgt. Matthew S. Schwartz, 34, of Traverse City, Mich. He was assigned to the 90th Civil Engineer Squadron, FE Warren Air Force Base, Wyo. He died Jan. 5 in Shir ghazi, Helmand province, Afghanistan, when their vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device. The 1996 graduate of Traverse City Central High School was serving his sixth tour of duty as an explosive ordnance disposal specialist. He was based in Cheyenne, Wyoming but visited the Traverse City area often with his wife and their three young daughters. His awards and decorations include: the Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Air Force Good Conduct Medal with three oak leaf clusters, Air Force Combat Action Medal, Air Force Achievement Medal, three Bronze Stars with two oak leaf clusters and one V device (the final bronze star issued for heroism).
Memorial Gardens Cemetery
To be updated…
Born: July 8, 2024
Died: November 30, 2024 in Helmand, Afghanistan
Staff Sgt. Vincent J. Bell of Detroit, Michigan died at age 28 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif. He joined the service in 2001 after graduating from Crockett Technical High School. He was serving his second combat deployment. He had previously served in Iraq. Among his awards are, the Purple Heart, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with gold star device, Combat Action Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal with two gold star devices, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal and Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with four bronze star devices.
Burial is at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia - Sec 60 Site 9850
To be updated…
Born: December 30, 2023
Died: November 21, 2024 in Kandahar, Afghanistan
Pfc. Jackie L. Diener II of Boyne City, Michigan died at age 20 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with small arms fire. He was assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 71st Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y. He was a 2009 graduate of Boyne City High School where he participated in football, baseball and wrestled at the school. As a junior he was an exchange student in Denmark. He joined the Army in March 2011. After training at Fort Benning, Georgia, arrivinf at Fort Drum in July 2011. Jack served as a Cavalry Scout and had been deployed since September. His awards and decorations include The Purple Heart, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the NATO Medal and the Army Combat Action Badge. He leaves his mother, and father, and a sister.
Burial is at Evangeline Township Cemetery in Boyne City, Michigan
To be updated…
Born: March 20, 2024 in Warren, Michigan
Died: October 8, 2024 in Kandahar, Afghanistan
Capt. Drew E. Russell, 25, of Scotts, Mich., died Oct. 8, in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with a rocket propelled grenade. He was assigned to the1st Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo. He is a 2004 graduate of Vicksburg High School. Capt Russell joined the Army in 2008 and joined the unit in June 2009. Among his awards and decorations are; the Bronze Star, Army Achievement, National Defense Service, Global War on Terrorism Service.
Vicksburg Cemetery
To be updated…
Born: April 4, 2024 in Flint, Michigan
Died: September 28, 2024 in Helmand, Afghanistan
Staff Sgt. Nicholas A. Sprovtsoff, 28, of Davison, Mich., died Sept. 28 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. Sprovtsoff was assigned to 1st Marine Special Operations Battalion, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command, Camp Pendleton, Calif. SSgt Sprovtsoff is a 2001 graduate of Davison High School. Nick completed his marine basic training and was serving as an amphibious assault vehicle driver. His awards include a Bronze Star with combat V, Army Commendation Medal, Navy-Marine Corps Achievement Medal with combat V, Army Achievement Medal, two Combat Action Ribbons and two Good Conduct Medals.
Burial is at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia - Sec 60 Site 9633
To be updated…
Born: March 2, 2024 in Detroit, Michigan
Died: September 18, 2024 in Kandahar, Afghanistan
Spc. Chazray C. Clark of Ecorse, Michigan died at age 24 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of injuries suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 4th Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kan. He joined the Army in September 2009 as a combat engineer. This was his first deployment. He deployed to Afghanistan with 4-4 Cavalry in February 2011. His awards include, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Service Medal with Bronze service star, a Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the Combat Action Badge, the Combat and Special Skill Badge, the Basic Marksmanship Qualifications Badge, the Rifle Expert Marksmanship Badge and the Overseas Service Bar. He posthumously received the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, the Good Conduct Medal and the NATO Medal.
Detroit Memorial Park
To be updated…
Born: September 21, 2024 in Grand Rapids, Michigan
Died: August 14, 2024 in Paktika, Afghanistan
Cpl. Joseph A. Van Dreumel of Grand Rapids, Mich., died at age 32 in Paktika province, Afghanistan, while conducting vehicle recovery operations, and encountered a secondary explosion while dismounted. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regiment, 172nd Infantry Brigade Grafenwoehr, Germany. He graduated from Jenison High School in 1997. He joined the Army in January 2010 and trained at Fort Knox, KY before serving in Germany from August 2010 through July 2011, when he arrived in Paktika province, Afghanistan, according to the Department of Defense. His awards and decorations include, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon and the Combat Action Badge. He posthumously received the purple Heart, and the Bronze Star Medal, the NATO Medal and the Afghanistan Campaign Service Medal with one combat star.
Burial is at Rosedale Memorial Park in Tallmadge, Michigan
To be updated…
Born: June 5, 2024
Died: August 6, 2024 in Wardak, Afghanistan
Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Heath M. Robinson, 34, of Detroit, Mich., died Aug. 6 in Wardak province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when his CH-47 Chinook helicopter crashed. He was assigned to an East Coast-based Naval Special Warfare unit. He graduated in 1995 from Petoskey High School before embarking on a military career. He enlisted in the Navy in 1996 and completed SEAL training in Coronado, California, in 2000. He moved from the West Coast in 2004 to serve on four East Coast special warfare units. His awards include, the Bronze Star (4) (three with V devices for valor), Joint Service Commendation Medal, three Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (2 for valor), Joint Service Achievement Medal Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, three Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, Combat Action Ribbon, two Presidential Unit Citations, Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation, five Navy Good Conduct Medals, Navy Fleet Marine Force Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, two Afghanistan Campaign Medals, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, six Sea Service Deployment Ribbons, NATO Medal, Navy Expert Rifleman Medal and a Navy Expert Pistol Shot Medal.
Burial is at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia - Sec 60 site 9934
To be updated…
Born: June 25, 2024 in South Lyon, Michigan
Died: July 12, 2024 in Helmand, Afghanistan
Seaman Aaron D. Ullom, 20, of Midland, Mich., died while conducting a dismounted patrol in the Now Zad district, Helmand province, Afghanistan, on July 12. ‘Doc’ was assigned as a hospitalman to 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 8, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force at Camp Lejeune, N.C. Aaron graduated in 2009 from Midland High School where he participated on the football and Tack Teams. Prior to joining the Navy, he worked at the Genji Japanese Steakhouse in Midland from 2007 to 2009. He deployed to Afghanistan in February to serve his first tour of duty. He leaves his parents, Kevin and Debi Ullom, brothers, Sean Bartley and Troy Vogel, and mother, Laurel Ullom.
Burial is at Midland Cemetery in Midland, Michigan
To be updated…