Army Pvt. Keiffer P. Wilhelm
Death: Aug 04, 2009
of Plymouth Ohio; assigned to 2nd Battalion 13th Cavalry Regiment 4th Brigade Combat Team 1st Armored Division Fort Bliss Texas; Died Aug. 4 at FOB Hunter Iraq of injuries sustained from a non-combat-related incident. Fort Bliss soldier dies in Iraq The Associated Press FORT BLISS Texas — The Defense Department says a 19-year-old Fort Bliss soldier from Ohio has Died in Maysan province Iraq and his death is under investigation. The military said Wednesday that Pvt. Keiffer P. Wilhelm of Plymouth Ohio Died Tuesday from a noncombat related incident which is being investigated. No other details were provided. Wilhelm was assigned to the 2nd Battalion 13th Armor Regiment 4th Brigade Combat Team 1st Armored Division. He was an Infantryman who entered the Army in December 2008. He was previously stationed at Fort Benning Ga. He is survived by his parents. Wilhelm's awards and decorations include the National Defense Service Medal Iraq Campaign Medal Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the Army Service Ribbon. Wilhelm’s service continued family tradition The Associated Press Keiffer Wilhelm loved karaoke. “He sang everything from Johnny Cash to Men at Work” said his father Shane. They once drove through a snowstorm just to get a new karaoke game the day it came out his dad said. Wilhelm also was a jokester who loved to greet people with a surprise bear hug instead of a hand shake. He joined the Army in December carrying on a family tradition of military service; his grandfather father and three uncles all served. His older brother Shannon is a military police officer in the Air Force. Wilhelm and his high school friend Jerry Muniz who also joined the Army talked about traveling the world together in the service and going to Japan and Germany. He was even looking forward to going to Iraq said his mother Kathe. “He was excited about going places he’d never dreamed about” she said. “Seeing things like scorpions.” Wilhelm19 of Plymouth Ohio committed suicide in Maysan province on Aug. 4. The investigation into his death has led to charges against four soldiers who the military says were mistreating some of the men in their platoon. He was assigned to Fort Bliss and graduated from Willard High School in 2008.Operation Iraqi Freedom