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Michael E McGahan |
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Orlando, Florida |
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June 6, 2010 |
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Killed in Khogyani district, Nangarhar province, Afghanistan, when enemy forces attacked his unit using small arms fire. |
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Army 2nd Lt. Michael E. McGahan honored in dignified transfer June 8 |
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| Michael E. McGahan MCGAHAN, MICHAEL E. of Orlando FL was killed in action on Sunday, June 6, 2010 in Eastern Afghanistan when his platoon was attacked by small arms fire. 2nd Lt. McGahan was born in West Hills California on December 27, 1986, and moved to Orlando with his family in 1992. He was a graduate of Olympia High School, where he was a two time captain of the Titan soccer team. He then went on to graduate from the University of Florida in 2008 with a degree in Political Science, and a minor in History. McGahan married his High School sweetheart Miranda Tsukamoto McGahan this past November prior to his deployment. In addition to his wife, McGahan is survived by his parents Tim and Carolyn McGahan; his brother, Max McGahan; grandparents, Sam and Katy McGahan all of Orlando FL. A memorial service and celebration of Michael's life will be held on Saturday, June 12 at 2 p.m. at St. Luke's United Methodist Church 4851 South Apopka-Vineland Road, Orlando, Florida 32819 with a reception to immediately follow the service. McGahan's burial will be held at Arlington National Cemetery at a date yet to be determined. In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made to the St. Luke's United Methodist Military Missions Team in his name. Published in the Orlando Sentinel on June 11, 2010 |
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| From The Voice Of Clarksville clarksvilleonline.com 06/09/10: Fort Campbell Soldier Killed Fort Campbell, KY – A 101st Airborne Division Soldier died June 6th when his patrol came under small arms fire in the Khogyani district, Nangarhar province, Afghanistan. 2nd Lt. Michael E. McGahan, 23, of Orlando, FL, was a combat engineer assigned to Company A, 1st Brigade Special Troop Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, 1std Brigade Combat Team. He joined the Army in November 2008 and arrived at Fort Campbell in December 2009. His awards and decorations include the Afghanistan Campaign Medal and Weapons Qualification, M9, expert. McGahan is survived by his wife, Miranda R. McGahan, and parents Timothy and Carolyn McGahan, all of Orlando, FL. A memorial service will be held in Afghanistan. |
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| From The Orlando Sentinel orlandosentinel.com 06/08/10: 2nd Lt. Mike McGahan: Olympia High grad dies in Afghanistan Mike McGahan will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery. June 8, 2010|By Sarah Lundy, Orlando Sentinel Mike McGahan's loved ones describe him as a born leader and an exceptional young man. The Orlando man's desire to serve his country led him to join the U.S. Army after graduating from the University of Florida two years ago. He became second lieutenant and led a platoon of soldiers in Afghanistan. McGahan, 23, was with those soldiers when he died Sunday. On Tuesday, his family attended a ceremony at the Dover Air Force Base in Delaware, where his body arrived with those of four other service members killed in recent days. "He loved the Army," said his father, Tim McGahan. "He felt young people today should serve their country." The Department of Defense said the soldier was killed in Nangarhar province, east of the capital Kabul. The family learned he was shot by insurgents in a firefight while his platoon investigated a report of an unmanned aircraft. "Someone yelled, 'It's clear. You can get up.' Everyone got up but Mike," said his grandfather, Sam McGahan of Orlando. The family is struggling to cope with the loss of the Olympia High graduate,who married his high school sweetheart, Miranda, 23, in November. She plans to attend medical school in the fall. "They had a clear path of what a great life would be," his father said. "But they both knew what the dangers were." McGahan joined the army in 2008 shortly after graduating college with a degree in political science and minor in history. He followed a family history of military service. Both grandfathers served in World War II, which pushed McGahan's interest in military history. "He wanted to do something bigger than himself," his father said. "He knew the dangers and still wanted to serve." Mike McGahan wanted to be a career officer, according to his uncle, Sam McGahan Jr. "He was an exceptional young man," Sam McGahan said. "He was popular . . . .He was a leader." McGahan was assigned to the 1st Brigade Special Troop Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team 101st Airborne Division, based in Fort Campbell, Ky. He was deployed in April but kept in touch with family as much as possible. He called his grandparents and often sent e-mails. They responded by sending packages to him and e-mailing pictures, including a photo of his name listed on a military wall of honor at their church. McGahan spoke to his grandparents on Saturday — the day before his death — about how proud he was to hand out combat badges to his platoon. "He called us and was in good spirit," said his grandmother, Katy McGahan. No funeral date has been set yet. He will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery. The family plans to hold a local memorial afterward. McGahan also is survived by his mother, Carolyn, of Orlando, and his brother, Max, of Orlando. |
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