WIS News 10 - Columbia, South Carolina | (4-13-04) Lake City soldier killed in Iraq

(4-13-04) Lake City soldier killed in Iraq

(Lake City) April 13, 2004 - A Lake City native is the latest South Carolinian to be killed in the war in Iraq. Army Sergeant Major Michael Boyd Stack was assigned to the special forces group out of Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

The 48-year-old Stack leaves behind a wife and five children.

Cecil Stack says his brother was ambushed while returning from a patrol during the weekend. He says his brother had 28 years in the Army and could have retired rather than go to Iraq, but chose to stay, "Mike was my best friend. This nation lost a wonderful citizen and the Army lost a wonderful non-commissioned officer."

Stack did not know the details of his brother's death. He also did not want to say which unit his brother was in until the Department of Defense announced it.

Nephew Ian Stack says his uncle was a congenial man, "He was a very outgoing person. Whenever you saw him, he had the biggest smile you can imagine on his face, loving."

Ian says his uncle was devoted to family, faith and the Army, "He was there for his men and soldiers when they needed him. He was this for all of his family when they needed him, if he ever needed anything, just call them and talk to you, pray for you."

Phillip Caudler says his uncle saw going to Iraq as the right thing to do, "I think he felt like that was his duty, you know, honorable thing to do to take care of his men, you know. He strongly believed in taking care of his men. He was there for their every need and everything, so it comes to his men, he was there for them."  

Stack was a graduate of South Florence High School. Stack's family says he enjoyed coming back to his hometown of Lake City and did so recently a few months ago, shortly before leaving for Iraq. Much of Stack's family has travelled to Fort Campbell for a memorial service scheduled for Thursday.

Stack was the 14th South Carolinian to die in Iraq since the war began.

Reported by Jack Kuenzie
Updated 7:12pm by BrettWitt with AP