Oklahoman Killed While Serving In Afghanistan, Two Others Injured

An Oklahoman was killed in an attack in Afghanistan.

The McAlester Army Ammunition Plant says 40-year-old Michael Sauro, of McAlester, OK, a civilian employee, died Thursday in an attack near the Afghanistan capital of Kabul.

“Mike was the type of person who no matter what you asked of him, he was always willing to lend a helping hand to everybody,” said Deborah Schreiner, Chief of HAZMAT Training at the Defense Ammunition Center. “He was such a joy to work with and always so upbeat. He was an exceptional person and employee.”

Sauro deployed on September 17, and was to return to the U.S. in March. It was his third deployment. He began his federal civilian service in December of 1999 and spent his career working for the Defense Ammunition Center, McAlester, and Fort Riley, Kan., and Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, satellite training locations.

“Mikey was a stand-up guy, both as a manager and a friend to all of us members of the DAC instructor cadre,” said Lyn Roberts, an instructor and co-worker at the Defense Ammunition Center. “We will miss his sunny disposition, as well as his genuine kindness. I, for one, will have a smile on my face when I think of the stories he'd tell. We are lucky to have had Mikey in our lives.”

Officials say Sauro’s remains are en route to Dover Air Force Base, Del., where they will be transported to McAlester for services. Funeral arrangements are pending.

Two other men, Richard Alford and Rodney Henderson, were also injured. Alford is in stable condition and Henderson suffered minor injuries. Both men are set to return to the United States.

The ammo plant says all three men were part of a NATO mission to train, advise and assist Afghan security forces.

The incident in Afghanistan is under investigation.