Colonel Michael R. Stahlman

Colonel Michael R. Stahlman, 45, of Chevy Chase, Maryland, died October 5, 2008, from injuries sustained in a July 31, 2008, incident in Anbar province, Iraq. He was assigned to Headquarters Battalion, Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, California.

His decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal with Gold Star in lieu of second award, the Navy Commendation Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, and the Navy Achievement Medal with Gold Star in lieu of second award. Mike is survived by his wife Kimberly and his two daughters MacKenna (13) and Piper (5).

I had the opportunity of meeting the Stahlman family at Bethesda Naval hospital and Kimberly is one of the most dedicated wives I had ever met. She was by her husband's side every time I walked down the hall in ICU to visit my son. I would stop for a moment just to see how she looked at her husband's lifeless body, which just took my breath away and broke my heart.

Mike was an accomplished Marine, he graduated the US Naval Academy in 1985 and went on to Flight school to become an NFO where he met his bride to be Kimberly. He Flew RF-4B's for a while then was selected for a funded Law Program in which the USMC sent him to law school. Mike served as CO of 1st BN at Parris Island (which he loved), as the JAG for USMC 29 Palms and also as fill in for the Chief of Staff. Most of all he loved date night with his girls and they loved him more than he could possibly know.

FOR OUR CONTINUED FREEDOM THIS IS WHAT MIKE LEFT BEHIND