Aug. 27, 2011 | WMU News
VanDreumel, age 32, died while conducting vehicle recovery operations and encountering a secondary explosion. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion of the 2nd Infantry Regiment in the 172nd Infantry Brigade stationed in Grafenwoehr, Germany. He joined the Army in January 2010 and trained at Fort Knox, Ky., before serving in Germany from August 2010 through July 2011 and then Afghanistan.
VanDreumel's awards and decorations include the National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, and the Combat Action Badge. He received the Purple Heart, Bronze Star Medal, NATO Medal, and the Afghanistan Campaign Service Medal posthumously. He was also posthumously promoted from the rank of specialist to corporal.
The funeral service for VanDreumel will be held at noon Monday, Aug. 29, at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, 2230 Lake Michigan Dr NW in Grand Rapids, Mich. Friends may visit with his family from 6 to 9 p.m. Sunday at the church. Interment will be in Rosedale Memorial Park with full military honors.
Former Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm issued a proclamation in 2003, requiring U.S. flags to be lowered to half-staff throughout Michigan and on Michigan waters to honor Michigan servicemen and servicewomen killed in the line of duty. Michigan was among the first states to honor its fallen sons and daughters by lowering flags.
