Army National Guard Specialist Michelle Marie Witmer, 20, New Berlin, Wisconsin, died on Friday, April 9, 2004 in Baghdad, Iraq. Her vehicle came under attack from a roadside bomb and small-arms fire. Witmer had been stationed in Iraq since March of 2003 with the 32nd Military Police Company, Wisconsin National Guard, based out of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Her tour in Iraq was a few days from ending when she died. 

    According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Michelle joined the National Guard in November 2002, going into the same military police unit as her older sister Rachel, 24, and who was also in Iraq. Charity Witmer, Michelle's twin sister, was a medic with Company B, of the Wisconsin Guard's 118th Medical Battalion, and was likewise stationed in Iraq. Michelle and Rachel's military police unit helped train Iraqi police. Michelle's job was during the night shift at the local police station in her area. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel went on to mention that the Witmer children were home-schooled at the parochial level; Michelle then attended Waukesha High School, she completed the high school level in 2002; and then went on to attend the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee before being sent to Iraq. 

    A subsequent article in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel noted Michelle's father John Witmer wrote a book about his daughter's death called, "Sisters in Arms, A Father Remembers" (2010).  Although not the first Wisconsin military service woman to die in Iraq, Specialist Witmer was the first female Wisconsin National Guard member killed in action while serving in that country. Also, Specialist Witmer was the first Wisconsin National Guard member killed in combat since World War II. On the night she was killed Specialist Witmer was in the gunner turret of her vehicle. The unit had been sent to reinforce a police station that was under insurgent attack. The Journal Sentinel goes on to discuss the motivation Mr. Witmer had for writing the book by quoting the prologue of his book: "This book is not a political statement; it is simply my story, a father's story about sending children off to war and waiting for them to come home and what it's like when they don't come home," The Journel Sentinel went on to note Mr. Witmer used information for his book from, "... events as he lived them; details as his surviving daughters advised him; e-mails, letters and phone calls from the women as he received them; and, personal journals as he wrote them."

    The Web site iraq.pigstye using information from an Associated Press article noted that early in the month that Specialist Michelle Witmer was killed, seventy coalition troops had already lost their lives in Iraq. Eventually, 140 American troops would be killed in April of 2004 making it one of the worst months for casualties in the Iraq war. 

    Wisconsin 2003 Senate Joint Resolution 71 states that: "while serving in Iraq, Specialist Witmer volunteered at an Iraqi orphanage for disabled children, had a keen interest in government, drama, music, and animals, and devoted a great deal of passion and time to these interests." Specialist Witmer was awarded the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star.

    The Wisconsin State Journal posted an article on host.madison.com in regards to the May 2005 dedication of the memorial at Wisconsin National Guard headquarters on Wright Street in Madison, Wisconsin. The auditorium in the National Guard building was renamed Witmer Hall. A plaque memorializes the Wisconsin military service persons that have been killed since September 11, 2001. Milwaukee artist Gwendolyn Gillen was commissioned to craft a bronze bust of Specialist Michelle Witmer, which is placed at the memorial. 

    An obituary posted in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel notes that Michelle Witmer was born on February 13, 1984. At the time of her death, Michelle Witmer was survived by her parents John and Lori Witmer; her two brothers Timothy and Mark Witmer; her sisters Army Specialist Rachel Witmer and Army Sergeant Charity Witmer; and, grandparents Jan Pretzel, and, Paul and Karen Pretzel.

Information for this short biography about Army National Guard Specialist Michelle Marie Witmer was pieced together from the following sources: The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "As New Berlin family mourns loss, sisters to bring body home," posted April 11, 2004; The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Every day is Memorial Day for this family" posted May 28, 2010; iraq.pigstye.net, Associated Press, "Michelle Witmer," posted April 13, 2004; Wisconsin 2003 Senate Joint Resolution 71, "Relating to: the life and service of Wisconsin Army National Guard Specialist Michelle Witmer"; host.madison.com, Wisconsin State Journal, "Smile in Face of Sorrow," posted May 31, 2005; The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Spc Michelle Witmer," April 13, 2004; Wisconsin Department of Veteran Affairs "Fallen Heroes Page"; and, CNN.com "War Casualties Page."

Note: This "Wisconsin Military Casualties Afghanistan Iraq Compilation" Daily Dadio blog Category is under construction. Go to the Cooldadiomedia Web site and the Wisconsin War Casualties Page for a list of names noted by date of death.  ( If readers know of other military service persons with Wisconsin connections that are not on the Web site comprehensive list of fatal casualties, or notice errors, please email Bob Keith at keithrg13@cooldadiomedia.com ).