Patriot Guard Riders

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Submitted with permission of the Funeral Home

 

Sgt. Michael R. Sturdivant, age 20, of Conway, Arkansas, died on January 22, 2008, from wounds sustained when his vehicle rolled over during convoy operations in Kirkuk, Iraq, in support of the Global War on Terrorism. He was born on March 9, 1987, in Mission Viejo, California, and was a trained Civil Affairs Sergeant assigned to the 431st Civil Affairs Battalion in North Little Rock.
   Sturdivant received his high school education through the home school program. In 2004, he received an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland. However, he chose to enlist into the U.S. Army Reserve for six years while concurrently attending Pulaski Technical College in Little Rock. Two years later, he transferred to the University of Central Arkansas in Conway where he studied mathematics.
   Sturdivant joined the U.S. Army Reserve on March 29, 2005, and, following basic training, attended the Special Warfare Training Center at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, as the youngest soldier to attend and graduate from there.
   His first and only unit of assignment was the 431st Civil Affairs Battalion, North Little Rock, a subordinate unit of the U.S. Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command (Airborne), headquartered at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
   He was mobilized in November 2006 and deployed with the battalion shortly thereafter and was scheduled to complete his deployment and return home to the United States less than two weeks prior to his death.
   Sturdivant’s military schools include Basic Combat Training, Civil Affairs Specialist Course, Warrior Leadership Course, Combat Lifesaver Course and the IED Defeat Course.
   His military awards included two Army Achievement Medals, two Army Commendation Medals, a Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with “M” device, NCO Professional Development Ribbon and the Army Service Ribbon. He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star.
   In his civilian life, Sturdivant was a full-time college student and an active participant in the Boy Scouts of America, where he attained to the rank of Eagle Scout. He was a very devout, prayerful and faithful Catholic and a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in North Little Rock.
   Sgt. Sturdivant is survived by his parents, Steve and Cheryl Sturdivant; by four brothers: Andrew, Daniel, Samuel and Nathaniel; and by his sister, Rachael, all of Bonner, Montana.
   The Mass of Christian Burial will be offered on Thursday, February 7, 2008, at 12 noon at St. Agnes Catholic Church, 1914 N. Randolph Street in Arlington, Virginia, by Rev. James P. West, with burial to follow at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia.
   A Memorial Mass will be offered for Sgt. Sturdivant on Saturday, February 9, 2008, at 10:30 a.m. at his home parish, Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, 7000 John F. Kennedy Boulevard, North Little Rock, with Rev. James P. West presiding. Local Arrangements by North Little Rock Funeral Home, 1921 Main, 758-1170. Online obituary and guest register at www.nlrfh.com

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IMMEDIATE RELEASE

No. 0058-08 January 23, 2008

DoD Identifies Army Casualty              The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.                   Sgt. Michael R. Sturdivant, 20, of Conway, Ark., died Jan. 22 in Kirkuk, Iraq, of injuries sustained in a vehicle accident during convoy operations. He was assigned to the 431st Civil Affairs Battalion, U.S. Army Civil Affairs & Psychological Operations Command (Airborne), Fort Bragg, N.C.                 For more information media may contact the U.S. Army Civil Affairs & Psychological Operations Command at (910) 689-3199.

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