Marine Lt. Col. Michael A. Robinson

Died June 1, 2007 Serving During Operation Enduring Freedom

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42, of Sylacauga, Ala.; assigned to Mobilization Command, Deployment Processing Command, Marine Corps Installations East, Camp Lejeune, N.C.; died June 1 in Kabul, Afghanistan. His death is under investigation.

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Two Alabama servicemen killed last week in Afghanistan

By The Associated Press

Two Alabama servicemen were reported killed in separate incidents last week in Afghanistan, according to military officials.

Marine Corps Lt. Col. Michael A. Robinson, 42, of Talladega, died Friday, and 82nd Airborne Division Sgt. Brandon E. Hadaway, 25, of Valley, was killed last Wednesday, according to statements from the military.

Robinson died in Kabul from non-combat related causes, according to a statement released Monday by military officials at Camp Lejeune, N.C., where Robinson was stationed.

Robinson had served more than 12 years of active duty with the Marine Corps and had received numerous decorations, the statement said. No further details on the cause of Robinson’s death were immediately available.

Hadaway was one of five paratroopers killed when their helicopter crashed in Afghanistan last Wednesday, according to information released Monday by the 82nd Airborne Division.

Hadaway, who also served in Iraq in 2005, joined the Army in 2002. He is survived by his wife, Rachel, of Fort Bragg, and leaves behind a stepson and two sons.

Staff Sgt. Ronald E. Walton described him as “a big ol’ teddy bear” and said he was always “joking and having fun with the guys.”

U.S. military officials have said initial reports suggested the CH-47 Chinook transport helicopter was hit with a rocket-propelled grenade, but that enemy fire was one of several possible reasons for the crash in volatile Helmand province, in the southern part of the country. A Briton and a Canadian were killed along with the five Americans.

“Their courage and dedication will never be forgotten, and we will honor them by continuing our commitment to supporting the Afghan people and government while fighting the War on Terror,” Army Col. Kelly Thomas, the 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade’s commander, said in a statement.

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Marine lt. col. dies in Afghanistan

The Associated Press

David Simpkins said he and Marine Lt. Col. Michael A. Robinson were good buddies in school. He said his classmates nicknamed Robinson “Chuckwagon” in about the seventh grade.

“I can’t recall how he got the name. He was a real cut-up and I’m sure that had something to do with it,” Simpkins said.

Robinson, 42, of Sylacauga, Ala., was found dead in his sleep June 1 in Kabul, Afghanistan. He was assigned to Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Robinson graduated from high school in 1983 and earned an ROTC scholarship to Auburn University, where he obtained a bachelor’s in industrial engineering.

Following tours in Japan and Panama, Robinson served as an artillery instructor at Fort Sill, Okla. He also was based at Fort Worth, Texas, and served a tour of Iraq, where he was responsible for training the Iraqi National Army.

Harold Brooks, director of the Boys Club of Sylacauga, said Robinson attended the club as a young boy and until he graduated from high school.

“He would do whatever I told him to do. He supervised the younger boys when I asked him to. I never had any reservations about putting him in charge,” Brooks said.

He is survived by his wife, Kristi.