Specialist Michael McGlothin

Mike McGlothin was only 21 when he was killed while serving in Iraq. He was assigned to the 1st Cavalry Division, 115th Forward Support Battalion, but to the people who knew him back home, he was still the same guy who loved music, made people laugh, and could strike up a friendship almost anywhere.

The attacks of September 11, 2001, played a major role in Michael’s decision to join the Army. He wanted to do something that mattered, and over the next three years, he committed himself to that choice. His service brought him both the Bronze Star and Purple Heart. He arrived in the Middle East in March 2004.

Michael grew up in southern Wisconsin, spending plenty of time outdoors around Hartford and Milwaukee. Swimming, fishing, and hunting were part of his life, but music occupied a special place for him. He played guitar, picked up other stringed instruments, and rarely seemed far from the music he loved. Before deploying, he even learned to play “The Star-Spangled Banner” on guitar.

Mike made friends quickly. People remembered his humor, but also how natural it felt to be around him. More than one friend said they knew early on that Mike was someone they wanted in their life.

Michael hoped to stay close to music after leaving the Army, possibly as a musician or producer. It was a future he had only begun to imagine. One word people closely associated with him was “Hooah,” a simple Army expression that fit the zeal and resolve he brought with him.

Mike is recognized not only for his military service, but for the music he loved, the relationships he built, and the plans he still had ahead of him.

His family and fellow soldiers continue to carry his memory.