Family of Fallen Newport Soldier Accepts Medals

CRANSTON, RI—The late Sgt. Michael Weidemann, who died while serving the country in Iraq in 2006, received the Bronze Star, Purple Heart and other medals at a special ceremony in U.S. Sen. Jack Reed's office in Cranston last week.

Reed, the ranking member of the Senate Armed Forces Committee, presented the medals to Weidmann's family and said that he was honored to join the family for the special ceremony.

"We owe Sgt. Weidemann a debt of gratitude we can never repay, and his service will never be forgotten," Reed said.

Weidemann was a member of the 1st Battalion, 36th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 1st Armored Division.

His sister, Ms. Catherine Weidemann of West Warwick, accepted the posthumous honors on behalf of her late brother.

Weidemann was killed at 23 by an improvised explosive device that detonated near his Light Medium Tactical Vehicle.

He had served in the Army for virtually all of his adult life, enlisting the same month he walked across the stage at his graduation from Rogers High School in 2001.

Friends and family remember a hard-working loyal man who always seemed to put others before himself.

"He came to my health office one day and gave me a gift of a bowl he had made in art class," said Donna D. Byron, his former school nurse at Aquidneck School in Middletown. "He was so proud of it and I cherish it to this day. It sits on my desk and I think of our local hero often."

Dee Mobbs, who served with Weidemann, said his friend was a hard worker "and the type of guy that would have done anything to help a comrade.

"The best of men and a friend. I miss him and think about him often. I pray his family finds some comfort in this ceremony to honor him," Mobbs said.