Indiana Guard honors two fallen Soldiers

Courtesy Photo | Lt. Col. Chris Kelsey, battalion commander, 2nd Battalion, 152nd Cavalry Regiment, presents two shadowboxes - velvet-lined glass cases with awards and photos- of Major Michael "Todd" Fiscus of Churubusco, who last served as the Transportation Officer with the HHC 76th Infantry Brigade and Master Sgt. Michael Heister of Bluffton, last serving as the Assistant Operations Sergeant with the 76th Infantry Brigade. Both soldiers were killed March 26, 2005 by a roadside bomb in Kabul, Afghanistan. The memorial for local soldiers is the first authorized to be set for permanent display on the Wall of Honor reserved at the Bluffton Armory.  

BLUFFTON, UNITED STATES

12.06.2008

Courtesy Story

Indiana National Guard Headquarters

By Staff Sgt. Patrick Cloward
120th Public Affairs Detachment

BLUFFTON, Ind. -- In accordance with a new regulation allowing individual armories an opportunity to honor those who served or gave their lives for their country, members of Troops A and B, 2nd Squadron, 152nd Cavalry, Reconnaissance and Surveillance Squad in Bluffton, Indiana gathered for the unveiling of the first Wall of Honor for two fellow Soldiers in a ceremony Saturday, Dec. 6.

Here at the armory the 152nd troops joined with distinguished members of the community and military to remember two men who gave the ultimate sacrifice.

The ceremony was attended by the families of the memorialized, Capt. Michael "Todd" Fiscus of Churubusco, who last served as the transportation officer with the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 76th Infantry Brigade and Master Sgt. Michael Heister of Bluffton, last serving as the assistant operations sergeant with the 76th Infantry Brigade, before both were killed March 26, 2005 by a roadside bomb in Kabul, Afghanistan.

For them, two velvet-lined shadowboxes containing their photos and awards they earned were unveiled for permanent display on a wall of honor at the Bluffton Armory.

Members of the community also present were Bluffton Mayor Ted Ellis and former comrades of Heister who served with the Bluffton Fire Department: Fire Chief Robert Plummer, William France, Chris Wolf and Brandon Shadle.

One of the distinguished visitors, Brig. Gen. David Harris, 81st Troop Command commander, had only words of praise for Fiscus and Heister.

"I've had the honor of knowing both of them," said Brig. Gen. Harris. "I knew I could give them a job to do and they would know how to think outside the box to get a solution. They were true leaders in every sense of the word."

One of the Soldiers' peers, Staff Sgt. Greg Kessie of Indianapolis, remembered working with both Heister and Fiscus. "He was the epitome of the NCO," said Kessie of Heister. "You always knew if it was going to be done, it would be done right, and Captain Fiscus was always very professional. Even during a physical training test you could always tell he enjoyed pushing himself and us harder." Fiscus was posthumously promoted by the state of Indiana to the rank of major.

After the ceremony, unit officers, in dress blue, wearing traditional cavalry Stetsons, served the noon meal to Soldiers and their families for their annual family day celebration.

• Date Taken: 12.06.2008
• Date Posted: 12.19.2008 10:22
• Story ID: 27894
• Location: BLUFFTON, US