Michael Anthony Cerrone
Captain, U.S. Army

Michael Anthony Cerrone was born on 2 September 1982 in Clarksville, TN, in the hospital located at Fort Campbell. He was the son of Army officer James A. Cerrone (retired as a Brigadier General in 2007) [Honoree Record ID 307654] and Elizabeth A. 'Betty' Marino Cerrone. He graduated from E.E. Smith High School in Fayetteville, NC, in 2000. He had a black belt in Kempo, a form of martial arts, and was an accomplished pool player, surfer and diver.

Cerrone attended the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, graduating in June 2004 with a commission as a Second Lieutenant of Infantry in the U.S. Army. Following the Infantry Officer Basic Course and Airborne training at Fort Benning, GA, 2LT Cerrone was assigned as a platoon leader in Company A., 2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg NC. His unit was deployed to Samarrah, Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom on 10 August 2006. The bulk of his duties encompassed 24-48 hour Presence Patrols. (In addition to reconnaissance tasks, presence patrols demonstrate to the local populace the presence and intent of the U.S. forces.)

1LT Cerrone died on 12 November 2006 in Samarra, Iraq, of injuries suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle during combat operations. Cerrone got out of his Humvee to check out a suspicious car. As he approached, one of the car's occupants got out, approached the Humvee and detonated a bomb strapped to his body. The explosion killed Cerrone and his Humvee gunner, Specialist Harry A. 'Buck' Winkler III. [Honoree Record ID 6499]

Michael Anthony Cerrone received a posthumous promotion to Captain in February 2007. At the time of his death, his name was already on the Selection List for promotion to Captain.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Bronze Star Medal
Purple Heart
Army Commendation Medal
Army Achievement Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Iraq Campaign Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Army Service Ribbon
Combat Infantry Badge
Parachutist Badge

Burial

Captain Michael Anthony Cerrone is buried at Notre Dame Cemetery in Worcester, MA.