Donald L. Munn II

Saturday, October 13 2007 @ 12:17 AM EDT

Detroit News -- A U.S. Army military police officer from St. Clair Shores died in Iraq on Thursday when an explosive device detonated near his unit, the Department of Defense announced Friday.

Staff Sgt. Donald L. Munn II, 25, was leading his platoon on a mission when he sensed something was wrong, according to his grandmother, Dorothy Richards of St. Clair Shores. Munn focused on getting all of his men out safely but he was the last to leave when the bomb exploded.

"He's 25 years old and had a whole life ahead of him," said Richards, who raised Munn. "He was fighting for his country trying to make everything right for his daughter and this is what happens."

Munn recently married Jennifer (Salvador) Munn, an Army soldier from California he met while they were stationed in Germany. They had a daughter, Jordan Lynn, who is 17 months old.

Munn was assigned to Special Troops Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas. A member of the Lakeshore High School Class of 2000, Munn went to Western Michigan University for a year before joining the Army.

It was his second tour in Iraq. He came home and then re-enlisted, according to Richards. Munn was scheduled to come home at the end of the month but his stay was extended an additional three months. He wasn't expected back until February.

"He was very quiet and very caring," Richards said.

Munn enjoyed sports, especially baseball, according to childhood friend, David Krenzer. He was a fan of the Detroit Tigers and the Notre Dame football team.

"He was loved by everybody," said Krenzer, who has known Munn since fourth grade.

Besides his wife, daughter and grandmother, Munn is survived by his mother, Rae Richards, of Bellaire, Mich.; father, Donald Munn, of Las Vegas and sister, Courtney Pyles of Casper, Wyo. Munn's funeral will be held in California, where his wife and daughter live.

A local memorial service is being planned at Bagnasco & Calcaterra Funeral Homes, 25800 Harper Ave., St. Clair Shores. No date has been set.

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