Army Chief Warrant Officer 4 Michael Slebodnik

Died September 11, 2008 Serving During Operation Enduring Freedom

39, of Gibsonia, Pa.; assigned to 2nd Battalion, 17th Cavalry Regiment, 101st Combat Aviation Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.; died Sept. 11 at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained near Forward Operating Base Nagil, Afghanistan, when the aircraft he was piloting received enemy fire.

* * * * *

Army pilot from western Pa. killed in Afghanistan

The Associated Press

GIBSONIA, Pa. — An Army helicopter pilot who grew up in western Pennsylvania was killed during a firefight in Afghanistan, his family said.

Michael Slebodnik, 39, died Thursday after being shot near Jalalabad, according to his mother, Patricia Slebodnik, of Richland Township. She said the family was still waiting for more details on how he was killed.

Slebodnik joined the Army after graduating from Richland High School in 1987, and had been a helicopter pilot almost the entire time since his enlistment, his mother said. The married father of four children, ages 3 to 18, he was assigned to Fort Campbell, Ky., and lived in Clarksville, Tenn.

Slebodnik had been in Afghanistan since January and was scheduled to return to the U.S. next month. He had served five tours in Iraq since 2003 and was a veteran of Operation Desert Storm, according to his family.

“He loved the military. He wanted to fly. He loved being a soldier,” Patricia Slebodnik said.

Dan Slebodnik, of Richland, said his brother had been fascinated by the military since childhood.

“He knew everything about every battle that was ever fought — World War II, the Civil War, even the ancient battles,” Dan Slebodnik said.

Michael Slebodnik was planing to retire from the military and wanted to return to western Pennsylvania, get his college degree and become a math teacher.

“He was getting too old to be a pilot,” his mother said. “He would not have liked being a desk jockey.”

* * * * *

Army Chief Warrant Officer Michael Slebodnik remembered

The Associated Press

Michael Slebodnik was a loving father and a voracious eater, but first and foremost he was a soldier.

“He’s been in almost 22 years, and he could have easily gotten out,” said his wife, Tanja. “He never chose that option. It’s like a complete mission — you don’t leave until your mission is complete.”

Slebodnik, 39, of Gibsonia, Pa., died Sept. 11 after the aircraft he was piloting received enemy fire near Forward Operating Base Nagil. He was a 1987 high school graduate and was assigned to Fort Campbell.

He was a talented artist and a math whiz. He was fascinated by the Civil War and battle strategy and developed a strong bond with his grandfather, who served in World War II. He planned to attend college and become a teacher.

He had served five tours in Iraq since 2003 and was a veteran of Operation Desert Storm. “He loved the military. He wanted to fly. He loved being a soldier,” said his mother, Patricia Slebodnik.

“He died on 9/11 — so appropriate.”

He also is survived by four children and two stepsons: Jake, Ginger, Spencer, Ben, Dylan and Michie.