Rank: Sergeant
Unit: HHT, 4th Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment
Duty station: Vilseck, Germany
Awards: Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Afghanistan NATO Medal
Deployments: 1 in Iraq, 1 in Afghanistan
Enlisted: 2003
Date of birth: 25 May 1981
Hometown: Trotwood, Ohio
High School: Trotwood-Madison High School
Married: Engaged
Children: Luciano Russo (son)
Campaign: Afghanistan
Died: 19 March 2011
Age at death: 29
Cause of death: Killed in action – Small Arms Fire
Location of fatality: Kandahar, Afghanistan
Click to open an external link to view general location of Soldier’s fatality.
Place of interment: Dayton National Cemetery in Dayton, Ohio
Click to open an external link to view Soldier’s grave site on the Find A Grave website.
Notes: Mickler was killed in the spray of bullets, along with PFC Rudy Acosta. Four other soldiers were wounded. Other U.S. soldiers returned fire and killed the Afghanistan gunman.