Fallen Soldier: Douglas E. Sloan

Major Douglas E. Sloan, 40, of Fort Drum, N.Y., and formerly of Charlevoix, died October 31, 2006, while serving his country in Afghanistan. He was killed when his vehicle struck an IED in the Waigul Valley.

MAJ Sloan graduated from Charlevoix High School in 1985, where he lettered in football, basketball, track and cross-country. He earned a bachelor's degree from Western Michigan University in 1996 with a major in history and minors in French and military science.

MAJ Sloan was the Commander of Bravo Company, 1st Battalion 32nd Infantry Regiment, 10th Mountain Division based out of Fort Drum, New York. His Army career spanned 19 years.

Andrew Coughlin, 22, a specialist who served under Sloan at Fort Drum remembers the beloved commander. “He was a great leader. He wouldn't ask you to do anything he wouldn't do, and you liked him and respected him, and from my experience in the military there weren't too many officers like that,”

MAJ Sloan is survived by his wife, Kerry and four children - Aidan, Dylan, Kellan, and Kenley.