Wiggins, Michael Josef
Male
Verified Staff Sergeant Michael Josef Wiggins, 26, of Cleveland, Ohio, was killed in action on January 23, 2007, in Balad, Iraq. He was a member of the 79th Ordnance Battalion, based at Fort Sam Houston, Texas.
Their Story
Michael Josef Wiggins was a 26-year-old Staff Sergeant from Cleveland, Ohio. He served in the U.S. Army's Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment (HHD), 79th Ordnance Battalion, a unit based at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. The battalion's mission involved the maintenance, storage, and disposal of munitions.
According to the Department of Defense, Wiggins died on January 23, 2007, in Balad, Iraq. The official casualty report stated he was killed by enemy small-arms fire while conducting operations in Salah ad Din province, north of Baghdad. Balad was home to a major U.S. air base and was a frequent site of insurgent attacks at the time.
Wiggins's death occurred during Operation Iraqi Freedom, a conflict that began with a U.S.-led invasion in March 2003. By early 2007, the war was in its fourth year, marked by a surge in U.S. troop levels and intense sectarian violence. The U.S. military casualty count was rising, with January 2007 being one of the deadliest months for American forces since the war began.
His death was announced by the Department of Defense. He was posthumously promoted from Sergeant to Staff Sergeant. Local media in Ohio reported on his death, noting his connection to the Cleveland area.
Wiggins is memorialized on the Iraq War casualty lists and at the Ohio Veterans Memorial Park. He was one of 4,418 American service members who died during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Explore Further
SSG Wiggins 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.
