Heede Jr, Michael Wayne

Michael Wayne Heede Jr. was a 22-year-old sergeant from Delta, Pennsylvania, serving in the United States Marine Corps. He was assigned to the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, based at Camp Pendleton, California. His unit, part of a route clearance company with the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade (Forward), was deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

On July 13, 2009, Heede was killed in the village of Dehli, located in the volatile Farah province of western Afghanistan. According to U.S. military reports, his death was the result of hostile action. Specific details of the incident were not widely disclosed in public reporting, but it occurred during a period of intense combat operations in the region.

Heede's death came during a significant U.S. troop surge in Afghanistan, which saw Marine units heavily engaged in Helmand and neighboring provinces. The mission focused on clearing insurgent strongholds and securing population centers. Route clearance operations, like those conducted by Heede's unit, were among the most dangerous, tasked with finding and disarming improvised explosive devices (IEDs) planted along roadways.

Heede was posthumously promoted to the rank of sergeant. He was survived by his parents and siblings. His body was returned to the United States, and he was buried with full military honors.

Heede is memorialized on the Afghanistan War Memorial at the National Museum of the Marine Corps and on online veterans' memorials. His name is listed on the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion's memorial at Camp Pendleton.

Sgt. Michael Heede was killed during Operation Enduring Freedom (2001–2014). The conflict concluded in December 2014. See the full roster of those killed in this conflict.

Among those documented in the same conflict: Andrews, Evander Earl, Edmunds, Jonn Joseph, Stonesifer, Kristofor Tif, Davis, Bryant Leroy.

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