A Meade County native who died while serving in Iraq is being honored this weekend at Fort Campbell.
The U.S. Army Reserve Center at the southern Kentucky post is being renamed Sunday in honor of Major Michael L. Mundell, who died in 2007 from injuries suffered when an improvised explosive device was detonated in Fallujah.
Mundell, who was 47 when he was killed, had volunteered to deploy to Iraq, and was survived by a wife, Audrey, and four children; Erica, Ryan, Zachary, and Dale.
Michael Mascari, Public Affairs Director with the 81st Regional Support Command, says Mundell served in an 11-man unit in Fallujah that was training Iraqi soldiers. Several of Mundell’s former comrades will be at Sunday’s ceremony.
“And one of the things that was unique about that unit was how small it is and how specialized the staff were,” Mascari told WKU Public Radio. “They took soldiers from all over, from all different types of units to assemble them for this. And out of 11 people, six soldiers from his unit are actually going to be there.”
The Reserve Center being renamed for Mundell is used to help process soldiers that are deploying overseas, as well as those redeploying back to the U.S. The ceremony will be held Sunday, August 3, at 10 a.m.
Mundell, who was from Brandenburg, spent 11 years on active duty, joined the Army Reserve, and volunteered to deploy to Iraq. He was awarded the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, and two Meritorious Service Medals.
Mascari says ceremonies like the one taking place Sunday are as much for the fallen soldier’s family as they are for the deceased.
“It’s a surprise to them when I call them and say your husband, or your son was nominated to have a Reserve Center named after them. I can’t even talk about how touching that is when you hear the reaction on the other end of the line.”
