Staff Sgt. Michael G. Owen, 31, was a psychological operations specialist assigned to the 9^{th Psychological Operations Battalion, 4th Psychological Operations Group (Airborne), an Army special operations unit based at Fort Bragg, N.C.}

On Oct. 15, 2004, Owen was fatally wounded by an improvised explosive device while conducting vehicle-mounted loudspeaker operations with the 1st Marine Division in Karabilah, Iraq.

Owen, a native of Fayetteville, N.C., served as the team leader of a three-man tactical PSYOP team. His unit deployed in September 2004 to support Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Prior to OIF, Owen deployed to Haiti in March 2004 in support of a U.S.-led, U.N.-authorized Multinational Interim Force.

He joined the Army in November 1992 and completed the Psychological Operations Specialist Course at Fort Bragg, N.C in 2002. He had previously served as an automated logistical specialist before retraining as a PSYOP specialist at Fort Bragg.

Owen completed the French Special Operations Language Training Course in January 2004.

His previous assignments include: the 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Bragg, N.C.; 82nd Engineer Battalion, Warner Barracks, Germany; and Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.

His awards include the Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon and the Senior Parachutist Badge.

He is survived by his wife, Crystal, and his parents, Howard Owen and Kay Hutchinson of Arizona.

Arizona soldier killed in Iraq

Associated Press

PHOENIX — A soldier from Phoenix has become the latest service member Arizona ties to be killed in Iraq.

Sgt. Michael G. Owen, 31, died last week in a car-bomb explosion in a town near the Syrian border, the Pentagon said Monday.

Owen was killed Friday along with another psychological operations soldiers from Fort Bragg, N.C. — Spc. Jonathan J. Santos, 22, of Bellingham, Wash.

Their vehicle was attacked “while conducting vehicle-mounted loudspeaker operations with the 1st Marine Division,” according to a statement from the Army Special Operations Command at Fort Bragg.

Owen was the leader and Santos was a member of a three-man team. The third member was wounded in the attack, the special operations command said.

Owen and Santos were sent to Haiti last March in support of a U.S.-led interim force deployed to calm the violence that led to the ouster of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. Both soldiers were deployed to Iraq in September.

Owen joined the Army in 1992 and completed the psychological operations specialist course at Fort Bragg in 2002. He is survived by his wife, Crystal, of Fayetteville, and his parents, Howard Owen and Kay Hutchinson of Arizona.

Family members said Owen had a passion for law enforcement and was living out his dreams in the Army, where he found camaraderie with other soldiers and received a real-world education.

“He took pride in everything he did and he loved his job. He got where he wanted to be because he worked hard at it,” said Glenn Owen, Michael’s father.

During his tenure in the Army, Michael Owen served in Bosnia, Afghanistan and Haiti before he was sent to Iraq six weeks ago.

Owen spoke four languages, including French and Bosnian, and met his wife of three years at Fort Bragg.

“He was quiet, he was reserved, he was modest and he was humble. He was always so respectful of anyone he came in contact with, never boasted about what he was doing,” Gary Owen said of his nephew. “We could all take lessons from him.”

Family and friends will spread Michael Owen’s ashes on the peak of Lookout Mountain in north Phoenix, a wish he expressed to his wife before heading to Iraq.