101st pilot remembered for his support of ISAF

Photo By Sgt. Charles Brice | Soldiers of 2nd Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment and the rest of Task Force Out-Front joined together with other Soldiers and friends to honor the life of Chief Warrant Officer Michael Slebodnik who was the Condor Troop Standardization Pilot.  

JALALABAD, AFGHANISTAN

09.21.2008

Story by Sgt. Charles Brice 

Combined Joint Task Force 101

By Sgt. Charles Brice
Combined Joint Task Force - 101, 102nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division

JALALABAD AIR FIELD, Afghanistan – As the sound of turbine engines roared, moderate wind blew and technicians chattered in the distance, operations were still in motion on the flight line. The mission continued, but the mood was somber. Soldiers quietly gathered in small groups around the clamshell hanger in honor of a protector, defender, friend and fallen comrade.

Soldiers of 2nd Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment and the rest of Task Force Out-Front joined together with other Soldiers and friends to honor the life of Chief Warrant Officer Michael Slebodnik, who was the Condor Troop Standardization Pilot and a corner stone for Charlie Troop.

"Friends and Soldiers of the Task Force Out-Front family, I would like to thank you for coming out and honoring CW4 Michael Slebodnik," Lt. Col. John M. Lynch commander of 2nd Squadron, 17th Cav. Reg., said. "When someone dies, we talk about celebrating their life. I find it ironic, that we don't feel much like celebrating, as we gather here today to celebrate the life of Michael."

With heads tilted forward, Soldiers sat together and focused their full attention on the commander. Waiting patiently for the next words of encouragement to try and lighten the moment of silence.

"Hard as that is to do," Lynch said. "It is exactly what we should be doing instead of mourning Mike's death, for we cannot change that reality, as it may seem."

"Mike was a lot of things to a lot of people. He was a loving husband, a favorite uncle, a hero, a mentor and a great warrior."

During Michael Slebodnik's career, he flew more than 4,300 hours, including 500 hours during this deployment in Afghanistan, where he was fatally wounded during a support by fire mission on Sept. 11, 2008. This is his fifth combat tour since the events of Sept. 11, 2001.

"It is no irony that he died fighting for a cause that he deeply believed in, on the anniversary of the events that started global war on terror that brought us here to Afghanistan" Lynch said. "Mike wanted to make a difference, especially for the Soldiers on the ground."

After a brief moment in silence, Capt. Margaret Stick, commander of Charlie Troop spoke to the crowd about Michael, whom personally helped groom most of the Soldiers of Charlie Troop into whom they are now.

"During his 14 years as an aviator, Mike has accomplished a great deal, but a listing of all his awards and achievements will not do him any justice," Stick said. "His aircraft knowledge and aviation prowess was more than a compilation of his experiences." "In return, he was a gifted pilot." "If anyone called him a pilot, Mike would quickly correct the person and tell them that he is a scout."

Amongst Slebodnik many achievements, he was well known for his aggressiveness, tactical competence and deadly accuracy with employing aircraft weapon systems. His favorite missions were convoy escort and convoy security, Lynch mentioned.

"It was this attitude towards flying that made him great," Stick said. "He believed that you could teach a monkey to fly, but it takes a scout to recon."

Michael's friend and fellow Trooper, Chief Warrant Officer Eric Leach spoke of how truly a mentor Mike has been to all of 2nd Squadron, 17th Cav. Reg.

"If you are a person of faith, like Mike, then you know there is a purpose to this life that is greater than yourself," Leach said. "Mike knew what his purpose was; he was truly a mentor to all of us, especially to the younger pilots," Leach said. "He was exceptionally proud of all the aviators he trained." "Each of us that flew with Mike can take away something we learned from him that will make us a better person."

"The way to honor his legacy is to do it right, just like he taught you," he said. "We all know what Michael would say, keep your head in the game and take the fight to the enemy."

• Date Taken: 09.21.2008
• Date Posted: 09.21.2008 17:06
• Story ID: 23960
• Location: JALALABAD, AF