VA #Veteranoftheday – Michael Strange

Each day, the VA honors a special military veteran for their dedicated service on their blog, VAntage Point. Today’s feature is Navy Veteran Michael Strange, who served from 2004-2011 with multiple tours in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom.

Born in 1986 and raised in Philadelphia, Michael Strange was known as incredibly athletic and ‘destined for a career in the military.” Shortly after high school, he followed through with this proclivity by enlisting in the Navy in 2004, just two months after graduation. 

After basic training, Strange reported to the Center for Information Dominance in Pensacola, Florida and later to the Navy Information Operations Command in Kunia, Hawaii. Strange stayed in Hawaii until 2009, when he joined a Navy SEAL team based in Virginia Beach, serving s a cryptologist technician petty officer first class, providing critical intelligence directly to the SEAL team on the battlefield.

Strange died on August 6th, 2011 from wounds sustained in a helicopter crash in Wardak Province, Afghanistan. Two Joint Service Commendation Medals (one with ‘V’ device for valor), a Joint Service Achievement Medal and a Combat Action Ribbon.

We honor his service.