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Daniel J Thompson

PORTAGE – Sgt. Daniel J. Thompson, 24, of Madison, was killed in active duty in a military police convoy in the Kandahar province in southern Afghanistan, when an improvised explosive device went off, killing all four soldiers in his Humvee, on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2009.

Daniel was born Aug. 20, 1984, in Portage. He joined the Wisconsin Army National Guard during his junior year at Portage High School and graduated in 2003. He attended Madison Area Technical College in Portage, graduated with a degree in criminal justice and law enforcement in 2006, and then went on to work for Brinks Armored Truck in Madison. Daniel was with the 32nd Military Police Company, Wisconsin Army National Guard, based in Madison, until he was honorably discharged in 2007. He then went into the Individual Ready Reserves, and was called up to leave with the 715th Military Police Company, Melbourne, Fla. Daniel had intended to enter police work after leaving the military this coming December.

He is survived by his parents, Lisa and Bob Thompson of Portage; his fiancé, Maria Steinke of Madison, and her parents, David and Jody Steinke of Poynette; his aunt, Vicky (Keith) Wruck and her children, Steven and Brian of the Florida Keys; his uncle, Mark (Jean) Erd and their children, Nicholas, Brittany and Joey of Menomonee Falls; his aunt, Dee (Paul) Voigt of Raleigh, N.C.; his uncle, Mike (Kara) Thompson, and his children, Colin and Lexie of Endeavor; his grandparents, Richard (Cathie) Thompson of Pardeeville; other relatives and many, many friends. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Russell Erd and Marian “Windy” Erd.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Portage, with Father Jim Murphy presiding. Burial will follow in Oak Hill Cemetery, Packwaukee. Visitation will be from 3 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, and Wednesday from 9 to 11 a.m.

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Madison
02/24/2009
Age: 24
Incident Location: Kandahar, Afghanistan
Branch: Army
Rank: Sgt.
Unit: 715th Military Police Company
Units Base: Melbourne, Florida