Macomb County's Military Personnel Continue to Serve Overseas

Macomb County has played a major role in the nation's response to the 9/11 attacks on America nearly 10 years ago.

From the moments after the World Trade Center was hit and fighter jets from Selfridge Air National Guard Base went from training exercises to protecting the airspace over Detroit, to men and women working at the U.S. Army Tank-automotive and Armament Command in Warren who support the Army to individual citizens answering the call to service, Macomb County has answered the call.

A significant number of personnel from Selfridge have served in and around
Afghanistan, according to Sgt. Dan Heaton, base spokesman.

Currently, there is a unit from Selfridge's Civil Engineering Squadron
deployed to an air base in Afghanistan working on a number of construction
projects in the country, including an elementary school. Additional service members from Selfridge are serving in nearby countries, including members of the base's chaplain staff who are now at the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyz Republic, which is where a number of military personnel transit into and out of Afghanistan.

Residents from Macomb County have also paid the ultimate sacrifice while serving in the military in Afghanistan.

According to an interactive feature on The Washington Post website, there have been 10 Macomb County residents who have died in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Two of those who died were serving in Afghanistan. Chief Petty Officer Jason R. Freiwal, 30, of Armada, died Sept. 12, 2008, while conducting combat operations. Lance Cpl. Anthony A. Dilisi0, 20, of Macomb Township, died while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan, according to the website.