Army Sgt. Daniel J. Thompson

Died February 24, 2009 Serving During Operation Enduring Freedom

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24, of Madison, Wis.; was a member of the Individual Ready Reserve and was assigned to the 715th Military Police Company, Florida National Guard, Melbourne, Fla.; died Feb. 24 in Kandahar, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle. Also killed were Capt. Brian M. Bunting, Sgt. Schuyler B. Patch and Sgt. Scott B. Stream.

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Soldier from Madison killed in Afghanistan

The Associated Press

PORTAGE, Wis. — A 24-year-old soldier killed in Afghanistan loved cars, playing hockey and his motorcycle, his family said.

Army Sgt. Daniel James Thompson of Madison was the lead driver in a convoy when he was killed Tuesday by a roadside bomb in Kandahar province in southern Afghanistan, said his mother, Lisa Thompson of Portage.

“I was proud of my baby. He never disappointed me. He always smiled. I’m very proud of him,” Lisa Thompson told the Portage Daily Register.

The Defense Department said Thursday three other soldiers, from Maryland, Oklahoma and Illinois, also died in the blast.

Thompson was a member of the Individual Ready Reserve assigned to the Florida National Guard’s 715th Military Police Company headquartered in Melbourne, the Pentagon said.

Thompson belonged to the Wisconsin National Guard until 2007, when he was placed on inactive status until he was called back for duty in Afghanistan with the Florida company, said Lt. Col. Ron Tittle, a Guard spokesman in Florida.

Thompson is the eighth soldier or Marine from Wisconsin to die in fighting in Afghanistan since a U.S.-led offensive ousted the Taliban regime in late 2001.

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Flags ordered to half-staff to honor Wis. soldier

The Associated Press

MADISON, Wis. — U.S. and Wisconsin flags at all state facilities will be flown at half-staff Wednesday in honor of a Portage soldier killed in Afghanistan.

Gov. Jim Doyle issued an executive order to that effect, noting that a memorial service is being held Wednesday for Army Sgt. Daniel Thompson.

The 24-year-old Thompson was killed Feb. 24 in a roadside bombing in Kandahar province in southern Afghanistan.

He had served with the Wisconsin National Guard until 2007 and was in Afghanistan as a member of the Individual Ready Reserve assigned to the Florida National Guard’s 715th Military Police Company.

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Sergeant remembered as outgoing, good-natured

The Associated Press

Daniel J. Thompson met his fiancee, Maria Steinke, in college.

“He sat in front of me in class, so he could turn around and talk to me,” Steinke said. “He gave me a note with his number on it. He was obviously good looking, very nice and would do anything for anybody. He was just a good person in and out.”

Thompson, 24, of Madison, Wis., was killed Feb. 24 by a roadside bomb in Kandahar. Thompson was a 2003 high school graduate and was assigned to Melbourne, Fla.

“He was just a really good guy, someone you’d want to be around all the time,” said Nick Konzel, a friend. “I feel empty inside.”

Thompson earned a degree in criminal justice and law enforcement from Madison Area Technical College in 2006 and worked for security company in Madison. He joined the Wisconsin National Guard while still in high school.

He loved cars, playing hockey, his motorcycle, family and friends (and an occasional handful of Gummi Bears). “I was proud of my baby. He never disappointed me, he always smiled. I’m very proud of him,” said his mother, Lisa Thompson.

He also is survived by his father, Bob.