Army Spc. Michael J. Wiesemann

Died May 29, 2004 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

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20, of North Judson, Ind.; assigned to the 1st Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash.; died of non-combat-related injuries on May 29 at Forward Operating Base Q-West (Quyarrah Air Base), Iraq.

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Funeral held for soldier who died in Iraq

Associated Press

NORTH JUDSON, Ind. — Friends and family members mourned a soldier from northern Indiana who died in Iraq, while they awaited results of the military investigation into his death.

Spc. Michael J. Wiesemann was honored with a 21-gun salute at his burial Wednesday in Highland Cemetery. Earlier, a funeral service was held at a packed funeral home in North Judson.

The Rev. Heath Hiatt, pastor of Kankakee Valley Christian Center, read a letter from one of Wiesemann’s friends recalling him as a nature-loving teen who kept a duck call in his pocket and sounded it wherever and whenever the mood struck.

Wiesemann, 20, died May 29 at Quyarrah Air Base of non-combat related injuries, according to the Department of Defense.

Tom Byerman, a family friend, said Wiesemann’s relatives have not been told how he died. He said the Army told the family it would provide results of its investigation in about six weeks.

Wiesemann joined the Army in 2002, soon after graduating from North Judson-San Pierre High School, about 40 miles southeast of Gary, and was assigned to the Army’s 2nd Infantry Division out of Fort Lewis, Wash.

Wiesemann was the 23rd service member from Indiana to die in the Middle East since the buildup for the war in Iraq began early last year.