Slebodnik

Michael "Mickey" Slebodnik, born Nov. 16, 1968, was killed in combat flying a OH-58 Kiowa helicopter for the U.S. Army in Afghanistan on Sept. 11.

Mike graduated from Richland High School in 1987. He joined the delayed-entry military program at age 17 and entered the Army after graduation. He was in Desert Storm and later served four tours of duty in Iraq. He was deployed to Afghanistan in January 2008 and was due home in October for R&R.

Mike loved God, his family, the Army and his country. He died doing what he loved to do best, fly.

Mike is survived by his wife, Tanja, his children, Jake, Ginger, Spencer and Michie; and his stepchildren, Ben and Dylan Baldridge, all of Clarksville, Tenn. He is also survived by his parents, Willie and Pat; his brother, Dan, and his sister, Jody Deems, all of Gibsonia.

Mike was a son, husband, father, brother, soldier and hero.

<B>SLEBODNIK</B> — Michael "Mickey" Slebodnik, who died Thursday, Sept. 11, 2008, will be laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery. A memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:30 a.m. Saturday at St. Richard Parish in Gibsonia.Please no flowers. Contributions may be made to Mike's family.