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Soldier remembered for kindness, humor

Feb-19-2004 » Filed Under: 3/2 SBCT

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MICHAEL GILBERT; The News Tribune

MOSUL, Iraq - When Capt. Patrick O'Brien, a Stryker brigade lawyer, was preparing to spend two weeks handling claims for damages during the December offensive in Samarra, he knew he'd need the best assistant he could get.

It was an easy call: Spc. Michael Merila.

"He was such a sharp guy, and you could really count on him," O'Brien said. "Plus, in that job, we'd have been living and working together for the next couple of weeks, and he was someone who was really good to be around."

There was just one problem. Merila's current commanders at the brigade's 1st Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment liked him, too - so much that when O'Brien called, they said no.


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