11/01/2006

Charlevoix soldier reported killed in combat

By CRAIG McCOOL

mccoolrecordeagle@sbcglobal.net

CHARLEVOIX — A local man died in combat operations in Afghanistan.

Army Major Douglas E. Sloan is the first Charlevoix native to be killed in operations in Afghanistan or Iraq, said Charlevoix County Veteran's Affairs administrator Bob Drebenstedt.

Sloan is the son of former Charlevoix County Veterans Affairs administrator Emory Sloan. Drebenstedt said he was notified of the junior Sloan's death early Tuesday afternoon.

"It's devastating, just heartbreaking," Drebenstedt said.

A family member who answered the telephone Tuesday evening at Emory Sloan's residence in Charlevoix declined to comment and said the family needed at least a day before speaking with media representatives.

A spokeswoman in the press office at the Department of Defense declined to confirm or deny the information, saying the department withholds casualty information for at least 24 hours after family members receive notification.

As of Oct. 28, according the Department of Defense Web site, the total number of U.S. casualties in Operation Enduring Freedom in and around Afghanistan stood at 284.

An August Edition of Freedom Watch, an Army Publication, quoted Major Sloan in a story detailing operations of he and his men in northeastern Afghanistan's Nuristan Province, near the border of Pakistan.

Drebenstedt said he talked to Emory Sloan about Douglas only weeks ago.

"He was just in my office a couple weeks ago with a letter — his son received an award for being an outstanding officer," Drebenstedt said. "He was so proud of his son for getting these accolades and praise."