Fallen Soldier: Michael L. Deason

Army Staff Sergeant Michael L. Deason, 28, of Farmington, Mo. was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, Ky. He died Aug. 31, 2006, of injuries sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle during combat operations in Salah ad Din, Iraq.

SSG Deason was born on July 23, 1978, and was a 1996 graduate of North County High School. An athlete, he was a walk-on basketball player at Mineral Area College. Upon graduation, he joined the Army in April 2000 and was stationed at Ft. Campbell. SSG Deason was with the 101st Airborne & made the elite 'Army Rangers'. He was awarded the Combat Action Patch and a Bronze Star.

SSG Deason originally joined for three years, but he completed his enlistment and then re-upped for an additional four years. He was very proud to be serving his country and could see the difference he was making. Classmates remember him as “the sweetest, nicest, most outgoing person” in high school.

He is survived by his wife Tiffany and two children, Jayden and Kayler.