SSG Michael J. Sutter, 28, Michigan Army National Guard, born in Illinois April 30, 1975, passed away while diffusing an IED on December 26, 2003. Sutter was an Explosive Ordnance Disposal Specialist with 745th Ordnance Company, 79th Ordnance Battalion, and deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. While in Baqubah, he was attempting to diffuse an IED with a robot, but it was out of reach. Sutter then approached the device to disarm it manually when it detonated. For his service, he earned a Purple Heart and the Bronze Star. Rest easy, Hero! Til Valhalla, Brother!