Slebodnik, Michael
Male
Verified Chief Warrant Officer 4 Michael Slebodnik, 39, of Gibsonia, Pennsylvania, was a U.S. Army aviator serving with Troop C, 2nd Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, based at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.
Their Story
Chief Warrant Officer 4 Michael Slebodnik was killed on September 11, 2008, in Bagram, Afghanistan. According to the Department of Defense, he died of wounds sustained from enemy small arms fire while conducting a combat operation.
Slebodnik was an OH-58D Kiowa Warrior scout helicopter pilot. His unit, part of the 101st Airborne Division, was deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. By 2008, the conflict had entered a period of intensified insurgent activity, particularly in eastern Afghanistan.
He had previously deployed to the Philippines and the Horn of Africa during his military service. The 17th Cavalry Regiment's mission often involved armed reconnaissance and security operations in complex terrain.
His death occurred on the seventh anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks, which precipitated the U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan. The Department of Defense announced his death on September 13, 2008.
Slebodnik was 39 years old. He was from Gibsonia, a community north of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Explore Further
Operation Enduring Freedom, the U.S.-led combat mission in Afghanistan, formally concluded in December 2014. See the full roster of those killed in this conflict.
Among those documented in the same conflict: Andrews, Evander Earl, Edmunds, Jonn Joseph, Stonesifer, Kristofor Tif, Davis, Bryant Leroy.
