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Sgt. Michael J. McMullen Courtesy the Salisbury Fire Department

By Turner Brinton
Capital News Service
Thursday, January 12, 2006

WASHINGTON - A Salisbury firefighter serving in the Maryland Army National Guard died Jan. 10 at Walter Reed Army Medical Center after being wounded in Ramadi, Iraq, on Christmas Eve.

Sgt. Michael J. McMullen, 25, a member of the 243rd Engineering Company's Second Platoon in Baltimore, suffered injuries when an improvised explosive device detonated near his unit, the Department of Defense said in a written statement.

McMullen joined the Salisbury Fire Department in 2001 and later became a paramedic, Salisbury Fire Department Information Technology Coordinator Steve Dickerson said. McMullen was called to duty in June 2005 and had been in Iraq since Aug. 7. McMullen specialized in crane operations with the National Guard.

Dickerson, who worked alongside McMullen for several months in the fire department, said McMullen was "gung-ho" about serving his country, and he had gotten his military spirit from his father, a Marine.

"Mike was energetic, always ready to do stuff," Dickerson said. "You never had to tell him twice."

McMullen has lived on Maryland's Eastern Shore for many years, according to the Associated Press, but was originally from Pennsylvania. He had no children.

He graduated from Washington High School in Princess Anne in 1999. Doug Bloodsworth was the principal of the school when McMullen was a freshman. Bloodsworth said McMullen was a "quiet young man," an "excellent student" and "an All-American kid." McMullen was on the track team and attended a food service vocational program at J.M. Tawes Technology and Career Center.

Pat Somers, a history teacher at Washington High School, remembers McMullen for being very helpful around school. She said he was the kind of young man who would volunteer to carry some extra books for teachers or show a new student where a class was.

"He just cared for other people," Somers said. "He spoke to people whether he knew them or not."

According to the fire department, Salisbury Mayor Barrie Tilghman has ordered all city flags fly at half-staff until Feb. 10. The fire department will observe an official 30-day mourning period. All fire department apparatus will be draped in black and badges will be covered.

McMullen planned to resume his position as a firefighter and paramedic when he returned, Dickerson said. McMullen had also planned to marry his fiance, who was not named, after his service. He is survived by his mother, father, brother and sister. His family was by his side at the hospital when he died.

Copyright © 2006 University of Maryland Philip Merrill College of Journalism