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- The People Behind The Sacrifice
Army Spc. David A. Wilkey Jr.
Died June 18, 2007 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom
22, of Elkhart, Ind.; assigned to 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kan.; died June 18 in Baghdad of wounds sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near his unit in Baghdad.
Upper Peninsula native killed in Iraq
The Associated Press
WILSON, Mich. — A soldier born in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula was killed by a roadside bomb in Iraq, the Defense Department and family members said June 19.
Spc. David Anthony Wilkey Jr., 22, died June 18 from wounds suffered the previous day when a roadside bomb blew up near his unit in Baghdad, the Pentagon said. Wilkey was riding in a Humvee convoy, said his father, David Wilkey Sr. of Elkhart, Ind.
Wilkey Jr. was born in Norway, Mich., and grew up in Wilson, his father said. As a teenager, he moved to Elkhart, where he graduated from Jimtown High School.
He worked with his father at Plastic Components Inc. for several years before joining the Army and being deployed to Iraq, family members said.
“He’s going to be missed,” David Wilkey Sr. said. “He’s made a lot of friends.”
Wilkey was married and had a 1-year-old son and a 4-year-old stepson. His wife is expecting another child in October.
Wilkey was based out of Fort Riley, Kan., and nearby Clay Center was his most recent home. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade, 1st Infantry Division.
A memorial service is planned at Fort Riley. Wilkey will be buried in Powers, Mich., in the area where he grew up, his family said.
Fort Riley reports 4 soldier deaths in Iraq, Afghanistan
The Associated Press
FORT RILEY, Kan. — Three Fort Riley soldiers serving in Afghanistan and one serving in Iraq have died of wounds they suffered in weekend bombings, the Army said Tuesday.
Officials of the northeast Kansas post identified those killed in Afghanistan as Capt. Joshua E. Steele, 26, of North Henderson, Ill.; Sgt. 1st Class Christopher D. Henderson, 35, of Hillsboro, Ore.; and Sgt. 1st Class John M. Hennen, 26, of Vinton, La.
The three men were wounded Sunday in Panjway when an improvised explosive device detonated near their vehicle. They were serving on a transition team assigned to Fort Riley-based 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division.
In Iraq, Spc. David Anthony Wilkey Jr., 22, was wounded Sunday by a roadside bomb in Baghdad and died Monday. Relatives said Wilkey was born in Michigan, moved as a teenager to Elkhart, Ind., and had lived most recently with his wife and two children in Clay Center, Kan.
Wilkey was assigned to 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade, 1st Infantry Division.
Fort Riley officials said that as of Tuesday, 112 soldiers from the post have been killed while serving in support of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Friends remember Indiana soldier killed in Iraq
The Associated Press
Classmates of Army Pfc. David A. Wilkey Jr. said he was always willing to lend a hand, help smooth out rough edges and have a good time.
“He was the guy that didn’t care what your name was, what you looked like, who you were. He tried to make a friend of you no matter what, and he has been like a brother through everything,” Brock Garris said.
Wilkey, 22, of Elkhart, Ind., died June 18 in Baghdad of wounds from an explosive. He was a 2003 high school graduate and was assigned to Fort Riley, Kan.
He worked with his father at Plastic Components Inc. for several years before enlisting. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping, traveling, sports, repairing items, shopping and poetry.
“He’s going to be missed,” said David Wilkey Sr., his father.
“He’s made a lot of friends.”
He also is survived by his wife, Melinda. The couple has a 1-year-old son, Blake, and a 4-year-old stepson, Christian. The family is expecting another child in October.
“Dave was a great guy. He was always there for you. Even though he was overseas, he still contacted us to make sure we were doing OK,” said another friend, Bo Garris.