Soldier Honored: Kevin H. Sonnenberg

Major Kevin H. Sonnenberg, 42, of McClure, Ohio, was assigned to the 112^th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, Toledo, Ohio, and served during Operation Iraqi Freedom.  On June 15, 2007, Maj. Sonnenberg was killed when his F16 crashed north of Balad Air Base, Iraq.

Maj. Sonnenberg was born February 10, 1965 in Napoleon, Ohio. A 1983 graduate of Napoleon High School and a 1987 graduate of Bowling Green State University, Maj. Sonnenberg joined the Air National Guard in 1990. He graduated from pilot training in 1993 and then graduating from F-16 training in 1994. Maj. Sonnenberg previously served his country in Qatar, Kuwait and Turkey, and had been awarded a Bronze Star for a previous mission.

Maj. Sonnenberg worked as a commercial pilot for Delta Airlines and as a Henry County farmer with his father. “He grew up working sunup to sunset and that’s how he approached all of his responsibilities,” Lt. Col. Scott Reed said. “He was willing to put everything aside until the job was done and done well. He believed in God, family, and country; he lived and died by those values. There are literally 24 hours in a day, and he sacrificed the most important thing anyone can – his time – to get the job done. Sonny was the best of what we are.”

Maj. Sonnenberg’s stepson is a Folds of Honor Scholarship recipient.