Army Pvt. Michael J. Slater
Death: Apr 21, 2007
of Scott Depot W.Va.; assigned to the 407th Brigade Support Battalion 2nd Brigade Combat Team 82nd Airborne Division Fort Bragg N.C.; Died April 21 in Taji Iraq of wounds sustained when his vehicle rolled over during combat operations. Soldier from W.Va. killed in Iraq The Associated Press RALEIGH N.C. — A soldier from West Virginia has been killed fighting in Iraq. Pvt. Michael J. Slater19 of Scott Depot W.Va. Died after his vehicle rolled over during combat April 21 in the town of Taji about 12 miles north of Baghdad the Department of Defense said April 23. The Defense Department said Slater was assigned to the 407th Brigade Support Battalion 2nd Brigade Combat Team 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg. Slater a 2005 graduate of Winfield (W.Va.) High School was a heavy vehicle driver who joined the Army in July. His dream was to join the Army Winfield High Principal Bill Hughes said. “He always wanted to be in the Army” Hughes told The Charleston Gazette. “From the ninth grade he wanted to be in the Army. So it’s kind of a sad irony ... that he accomplished his dream and it cost him his life.” Slater’s father Chuck is Winfield’s softball coach. “You see the news at night” Hughes said. “It really doesn’t mean much to a high school kid because it’s just a number on a TV screen. But all of a sudden when it’s a face and it’s someone who’s walked the halls it hits home. It’s reality.” Operation Iraqi Freedom