McALESTER ARMY AMMUNITION PLANT, Okla. -- The Department of the Army Civilian from the Defense Ammunition Center who was killed in Afghanistan was remembered by family and friends for his love of family and Pittsburgh's professional sports teams during a memorial service here, Oct. 26.
More than 200 family members, friends and dignitaries gathered to remember Michael G. Sauro, 40, who died of injuries suffered during an attack at an Afghan military ammunition supply point near Camp Morehead outside Kabul one week earlier.
During the nearly 30-minute ceremony, Defense Ammunition Center employees Keith Brailsford, Deborah Schreiner and DAC executive director, Upton Shimp, all shared memories of the man affectionately called Mikey.
Steven Churchwell, a family friend for more than 30 years and recently retired Defense Ammunition Center employee, talked about his eternal optimism.
"He always loved the Steelers and Pirates," Churchwell said. "It didn't matter what kind of season they were having, Mikey always knew they were going to win the Super Bowl or the World Series. He was the eternal optimist."
Sauro's Sister, Brienne Matthews, thanked everyone for their outpouring of support. She also asked for a moment of silence for Army Sgt. Douglas J. Riney from Fort Hood, Texas, who also died in the attack, and the recovery of others who were injured.
She said her brother set his professional goals high.
"Mikey had his sights set on reaching the top -- executive director of the Defense Ammunition Center," Matthews said. "He knew this deployment, although risky, would help him better understand a part of DAC that he didn't regularly work. It would be a step toward his ultimate goal. Although Mikey didn't reach his ultimate goal, he did become a hero."
"Mikey died doing a job he loved, for a country he loved even more," she said.
Shimp, a colleague of Mikey's father, Michael, who retired from the Defense Ammunition Center in 2010, reflected on Mikey's character as a son.
"Mike, Christine…as a father, I want you to know that no parents could be more proud of a son," he said. "Mike was the man that all parents want their son to become. He was a beacon for all that was good and caring in this world."
Shimp also acknowledged Rodney Henderson, a DAC employee assigned to its Fort Bliss, Texas, satellite training site, who was wounded in the attack and attending the ceremony; DAC employee Richard "Rick" Alford, who is recovering from his injuries in Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio; and, Capt. Scott Rankin, who is recovering at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.
Sauro deployed to Afghanistan on Sept. 17, and was to return to the United States in March. It was his third deployment. He previously deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from February to May 2009, and in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan from October 2012 to January 2013.
Sauro began his federal civilian service on Dec. 6, 1999, and spent his career working for the Defense Ammunition Center, McAlester, and its Fort Riley, Kansas, and Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, satellite training locations.
Michael Sauro, didn't speak during the service, but he talked about the kind of man his son was with media immediately following the ceremony.
"Mike was just a great guy," he said. "He'd do anything for you. He could just meet someone and 15 minutes later they would be drinking a beer and sharing stories."
"I always said that if Mike had two cents in his pocket, you would wind up with one of them. He was generous to a fault and always wanted to do things for others," he said
Inurnment will be at St. Gertrude's Cemetery in Vandergrift, Pennsylvania.
The Defense Ammunition Center provides expertise, training and solutions in explosives safety, transportation of hazardous materials, ammunition surveillance, logistics engineering and supports Army ammunition operations through global ammunition site inspections.
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