EVANS MILLS, NY, USA
U.S. Army
MAJ, COMPANY B, 1ST BATTALION, 32D INFANTRY, FORT DRUM, NY
WYGAL VALLEY, AFGHANISTAN 10/31/2006
Major Douglas E. Sloan who was a serious soldier who was also known as a wonderful and loving father. Sloan was married to Kerry. The couple had four children Aidan, 11, Dylan, 8, Kellan, 3, and 3-month old Kenley all of Fort Drum, New York. It was common to see this favorite uncle and father in the middle of a baseball or football game surrounded by children. It was always an event when uncle Doug visited. It was like Santa Claus coming. At the MAJ Sloan’s service in Afghanistan, villagers from across the mountain attended. A Michigan friend recalls how MAJ Sloan’s father relayed the story about Doug’s efforts to bond with the afghan villagers. He recalled the intervention Doug made, freeing the 18 year old girl, locked in a wooden cage and how he had negotiated with the village council, prompting action to free her. His service to this country, freed many personalities.
Major Douglas E. Sloan, age forty, of Fort Drum, N.Y., and formerly of Charlevoix, died October 31, 2006, while serving his country in Afghanistan. He was killed when his vehicle struck an IED in the Waigul Valley in Afghanistan. Major Sloan was the Commander of Bravo Company, 1st Battalion 32nd Infantry Regiment, 10th Mountain Division based out of Fort Drum, New York. His Army career spanned 19 years and he had also served at Fort Benning, Korea, Fort Bragg and Fort Hood. He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart, and was also awarded the Order of Saint Maurice for his personal contributions to the Infantry, which since its inception has been awarded to only some 2,000 Army Captains. He was Company Commander of Battle Company, 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry at the time of his death. Doug also earned the Air Assault and Parachutist Badges in addition to his Combat Infantry and Expert Infantry Badge. A Ranger Tab could also be seen on his uniform. He was part of the 101st Airborne.
“Double Staff “ ,as some knew him, had been a Platoon Instructor at Fort Benning’s Infantry Office Basic Course. He was an easy going leader who made you want to respect him. The fierce care he had for his soldiers was recognized and felt by many across his time as an Army leader.
He was born May 14, 1966, in Duluth, Minn., to Emory C. and Wendy J. (Knudsen) Sloan. Doug graduated from Charlevoix High School in 1985, where he lettered in football, basketball, track and cross-country. He later earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Western Michigan University with a major in history and minor in French.