Staff Sergeant Michael H. Simpson was born on February 13, 1983, and was a native of San Antonio, Texas. He came from a family of soldiers; both of his brothers, Isaac and David, also served in the Army.
Michael enlisted as an infantryman in April 2003. After Basic Combat Training and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Benning, Georgia, he was assigned as a rifleman to Company D, 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, “The Old Guard,” at Fort Myer, Virginia, the Army’s official ceremonial unit and the guardians of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. In 2006 he joined Company C, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, and in 2007 he deployed to Iraq as a fire team leader in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Michael then volunteered for Special Forces Assessment and Selection. He completed the Special Forces Qualification Course in July 2011 and was assigned as a Special Forces weapons sergeant to Company C, 4th Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington. In 2012 he took part in the multinational exercise Cobra Gold in Thailand. His military education also includes the Warrior Leader and Advanced Leader Courses, the Combat Lifesaver Course, SERE, the Hazmat Driver Instructor Course, the Joint Armorers Training Course and the Basic Airborne Course.
In 2013 Michael deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, his third overseas deployment. On April 27, 2013, an improvised explosive device detonated while his unit was conducting combat operations in Ghazni Province. He was gravely wounded and was flown to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany, where he died on May 1, 2013. He was 30 years old.
Michael was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart. His other decorations include three Army Commendation Medals, four Army Achievement Medals, four Good Conduct Medals, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Special Forces Tab, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Expert Infantryman Badge and the Parachutist Badge.
Michael called his wife, Krista, his compass. Together they had two sons, Michael “Mic” Eugene and Gabriel “Gabe” Robert. “I’m so proud of him through everything,” Krista said. “The man that he was when I met him, the man he grew to be, the father he was and the person he made me.” He is also survived by his parents, his sister Abigail “Abby” Simpson, his brother Sergeant First Class Isaac Simpson and Isaac’s wife Vanessa and son William and his brother Sergeant David Simpson and David’s wife Kelsey and daughter Anneka.
I’m so proud of him through everything. The man that he was when I met him, the man he grew to be, the father he was and the person he made me.
Krista Simpson (Wife)
Sources
- Green Beret Foundation: Michael H. Simpson
- ARSOF History: Michael H. Simpson
- Military Times Honor the Fallen: Army Staff Sgt. Michael H. Simpson
- KPBS: Green Beret dies of injuries sustained in Afghan IED blast
- Family-provided records on file with MVF: Michael Simpson bio
