Soldier Honored: Michael J. Bordelon
Hometown: St. Mary’s Parish, Louisiana
Branch of Service: Army
Rank: First Sergeant
A member of a Stryker Brigade Combat Team based out of Fort Lewis, Washington, Bordelon, 37, died on May 10, 2005 due to third-degree burns and internal injuries suffered when his vehicle hit an improvised explosive device near Mosul, Iraq on April 23rd of the same year. He was flown to Germany for initial treatment and then moved to Brook Medical Center in Texas for recuperation, but his injuries proved too severe for recovery.
A native of St. Mary’s Parish, Louisiana, the father of three was serving his second tour of duty in Iraq at the time of the convoy bombing. One of his duties was to write letters to the relatives of soldiers within his unit that were killed in action.
Survived by his wife, Mila, and their three children, Sergeant Bordelon was laid to rest with honors in Arlington National Cemetery.