Army Ranger Staff Sergeant Michael 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 graduated from North County High School in 1996 where he was an athletic student who played several sports. He then attended Mineral Area College where he made the basketball team as a walk-on. SSG Deason joined the Army in April 2000 and went on to make it through the grueling Army Ranger training. He was proud of his service and believed that his unit was making a difference in Iraq.

Friends remembered Michael for his humor, leadership and concern for his soldiers. He was a lot of fun and always tried to make people laugh. Fellow soldier Jesse Dyer described him as “a very good leader” who cared for his troops.

SSG Deason was survived by his wife and two children.