Retired U.S. Army Sergeant First Class Michael Schlitz was born in Milan, IL. He enlisted in March 1996 and served in several positions including Rifleman and Platoon Sergeant. While in Baghdad, Iraq on February 27, 2007, Mike and his crew were on a road-clearing mission when their vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device (IED).
Photo Credit [Retired Sgt. 1st Class Michael Schlitz tells a joke to paratroopers stationed at Al Asad Air Base in Iraq]: Public Domain