Wendling, Michael J
Male
Verified U.S. Army Specialist Michael J. Wendling, 20, of Mayville, Wisconsin, died on September 26, 2005, in Shaibah, Iraq.
Their Story
Michael J. Wendling was a 20-year-old soldier from Mayville, Wisconsin. He served as a Specialist in Company C, 2nd Battalion, 127th Infantry Regiment, a Wisconsin Army National Guard unit based in Fond du Lac.
On September 26, 2005, Wendling was killed in Shaibah, a city in southern Iraq near Basra. According to the U.S. Department of Defense, his death was the result of hostile action. Reports from the time indicate his unit was conducting security operations in the area.
Wendling's death occurred during Operation Iraqi Freedom, a conflict that began with a U.S.-led invasion in March 2003. By late 2005, the war had entered a phase characterized by sustained insurgent attacks against coalition and Iraqi forces.
Following his death, Wendling was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart. His funeral was held in Mayville, where he was remembered by his community and fellow soldiers.
He is memorialized on the Wisconsin Veterans Museum's 'Remembering the Fallen' tribute and on the Global War on Terrorism memorial page at Fort Liberty, formerly Fort Bragg.
Explore Further
Michael J. Wendling was killed during Operation Iraqi Freedom (2003–2010). The conflict concluded in August 2010. See the full roster of those killed in this conflict.
Among those documented in the same conflict: Kennedy, Brian Matthew, Beaupre, Ryan Anthony, Gutierrez, Jose, Waters-bey, Kendall Damon.
