Army Spc. Michael D. Elm

Remember Our Heroes

Army Spc. Michael D. Elm, 25, of Phoenix, Ariz

Spc Elm was assigned to 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Knox, Ky.; died Oct. 14, 2011 in Khowst, Afghanistan, of wounds caused by an improvised explosive device.


Spc Elm graduated from Greenway High School in 2004, where he was an avid participant in Youth in Government and loved to engage in debates and where he was voted best actor for playing the school's lead role in The Importance of Being Earnest. He attended the University of Maryland, where he was the school's mascot.

He joined the Army in 2009. He deployed to Afghanistan about 11 months ago. This was his first deployment.

The third of five children, he was ambitious, artistic and sensitive. He volunteered for years with Planned Parenthood where he was sent throughout the state providing training programs at high schools. He served as a counselor for the Boy Scouts at Camp Geronimo where he earned his NRA sharp shooter's designation the same day that he first fired a gun

His mother, Donna Lee Elm, last spoke with her son on Mother's Day.

"He didn't have to do this," said his mother, a federal public defender for the Middle District of Florida. "I'm the head of a federal agency. We have plenty of money. He excelled in school and everything else he undertook. This was a kid who was going somewhere. He was going to accomplish things. He had options. He joined the Army because he wanted to serve his country."

Spc Elm was offered a chance to enter the officer training program three times. He declined. "He wanted to be an infantryman," his mother said.

He wanted to be in a relationship, his mother said, but he had put that part of his life on hold for the military. "It was what he felt was right for him," she said.

Spc Elm's awards and decorations include:
Bronze Star
Purple Heart
Army Achievement Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Global War on Terrorism Medal
Army Service Ribbon
Army Good Conduct Medal
Army Commendation Medal
Navy Achievement Medal
Combat Infantryman Badge

Spc Elm was laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery.

Spc Elm is survived by his parents, Donna and Dennis Elm; siblings, Matthew, Margaret, Christy and Katie.

Army Spc. Michael D. Elm was killed in action on 10/14/11.