D.O.D. Announces Army Casualty
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Sgt. James A. McHale, 31, of Fairfield, Mont., died July 30 at the National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Md., of wounds suffered July 22 in Taji, Iraq, when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 40th Engineer Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Baumholder, Germany.
Great Falls Tribune — Family and friends flew to a Maryland military hospital Tuesday to say goodbye to a Fairfield man who was critically injured in Iraq when a roadside bomb exploded beside his Humvee.
Sgt. Jimmy McHale, 31, has been on life support for a week as the bombing burned both legs, his arm and hand and face. His most serious injury, however, was head trauma, and he has been in a coma since the July 22 attack.
The vehicle driver suffered a broken leg.
After seeing a CT scan Tuesday, the family decided to remove McHale from life support today, giving family and friends time to say goodbye.
“He was just an awesome guy,” his aunt Trudy Hamann said Tuesday. “He had the biggest heart, the biggest smile. He was willing to do everything for everyone.”
The son of a retired Malmstrom airman, McHale has served in the Army since graduating from Fairfield High School, including two tours in Iraq.
His older brother, Michael, also is serving in the army in Baghdad.
Parents Joel and Bonnie McHale flew out to the Walter Reed Medical Center in Bethesda on Thursday evening, joining their sons.
Hamann said Mike and Jimmy McHale were both brothers and best friends.
“When they were little, people would hand him a piece of candy and he asked if he could have one for his brother,” she said. “He wouldn’t take a piece of candy unless his brother could have one, too.”
Jimmy McHale never married or had children, but was a proud uncle of two.
As soon as the Fairfield community learned of McHale’s injury, neighbors and friends began prayer chains, hoping that he would pull through.
“We’re just shocked,” Hamann said. “Bonnie and Joel say we do believe in miracles, but we know at this point there really can’t be a miracle.
“He’s soon going to be out of his suffering.”
Last summer during a break, Jimmy McHale wanted nothing more than to spend the week camping and fishing in the Benchmark area.
His family joined him and Hamann told him she respected his decision to serve in the military.
“He said to me, ‘It’s one thing I can say I’m proud of — to be over there fighting for freedom. It’s a hard job. People don’t realize.’”
