Dec. 7, 2011 | WMU News
Diener, age 20, died of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit. He was assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 71st Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division in Fort Drum, N.Y.
Diener joined the Army in March and arrived at Fort Drum in July. He served as a cavalry scout and had been deployed since September. His awards and decorations include: the National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Bronze Service Star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon and the Combat and Special Skills Badge Basic Marksmanship Qual Badge. He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Army Good Conduct Medal, NATO Medal and Combat Action Medal.
A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 10, at the Stackus Funeral Home in Boyne.
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.
