Staff Sgt. Jerry Michael Durbin
U.S. Army 07/06/79-01/25/06 Spring, TX Army Staff Sergeant Michael Durbin was born on July 6, 1979, in Houston, Texas. He grew up in Spring, Texas, and attended Nimitz High School. He attended Kingwood College before deciding to enlist in the Army in 2001 at the age of 21. His goal in life was to someday work for the CIA, and he enlisted in the hopes that the military would be a quick route toward that goal. By the age of 26, Michael had already become staff sergeant in an air assault unit, and had bold aspirations of becoming a member of the elite and daring Delta Force. Staff Sergeant Durbin had already served two tours of duty in the Middle East and was deployed for his third tour of duty in September 2005. He became the 194th Texan killed since the start of the war. He was killed when a homemade bomb exploded while he was on patrol. Michael was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team of the 101st Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, Kentucky. With his entire life before him, and his aspirations to serve Americans, Michael risked everything to fight for the values and freedoms we as Americans enjoy this day and every day. He was fighting so the Iraqis can enjoy these freedoms as well. With the death of Michael Durbin, this Nation lost a freedom fighter, a loving father, and, as his dad said, a perfect son.