Army Spc. William J. Mulvihill

Remember Our Heroes

Army Spc. William J. Mulvihill, 20, of Leavenworth, Kan.

Spc. Mulvihill was assigned to the Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas; died Aug. 1, 2008 in Chowkay Valley, Afghanistan, from wounds sustained when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device. Also killed were 2nd Lt. Michael R. Girdano, Pfc. David J. Badie and Pvt. Jair DeJesus Garcia.

Specialist William Mulvihill was in Afghanistan for about a month when he was killed by a roadside bomb. On Wednesday he was buried with full military honors.

Specialist Mulvihill enlisted in the armed forces after participating in the ROTC program at Leavenworth High School, just like his older brother.

Mulvihill's family and friends were joined by hundreds of riders from the Kansas Patriot Guard, an organization of bikers work to honor those who serve. They didn't know Mulvihill, who would have turned 21 in just a couple weeks.

"People stop and pay attention and it's what we should all do when we see an American flag and a ribbon around a tree. It's not about politics. It's about people who serve our county and patriotism," Liz Wheelihan with the Patriot Guard said.

Mulvihill was buried on Fort Leavenworth with full military honors. Soldiers presented his mother with the flag from his casket and family said their final good-byes in a private graveside ceremony.

Army Spc. William J. Mulvihill was killed in action on 8/1/08.