Daily Press and Argus -- Judy Algrim remembered when her oldest son, Wilson, would play around the house as a child and pretend to be his favorite superhero.
"He liked Superman," she said. "He used to run around the house in a Superman outfit and pretend that he was flying."
Army Spc. Wilson Algrim grew up to become a real-life hero who served his country in Iraq and made the ultimate sacrifice. On Wednesday, the Department of Defense announced that he died from wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle during combat operations.
"I would say he was gregarious, courageous, curious," said Judy Algrim, when asked to describe Wilson. "He was very friendly and smiled a lot. He was loving and affectionate."
Wilson Algrim was one of three soldiers from Michigan who died on Dec. 23 in Salman Pak, Iraq. Army Spc. Chad J. Vollmer, 24, of Grand Rapids and Army Pvt. Bobby Mejia II, of Saginaw, also died Saturday. All three were assigned to the Michigan Army National Guard First Battalion, 125th Infantry from Big Rapids.
He is the second soldier in the span of a week from Livingston County who has died in the Iraq war. Army Spc. Andrew P. Daul, 21, of Brighton died Dec. 19, in Hit, Iraq, from an improvised explosive device that went off near his tank. Wilson is the ninth person with ties to Livingston County to die in action in Iraq.
Wilson Algrim was born in Antioquia, Columbia. When he was 8 years old, he and his two sisters and one brother were adopted by Don and Judy Algrim. Judy Algrim had lived in Columbia when she taught at the University of the Andes, located in Bogota, Columbia.
She and her husband had been living in Columbus, Ohio, while she was a professor at Ohio State University, when they decided they want to adopt a child from Columbia.
"We had been married 13 years and hadn't had children," Judy Algrim said. "We wanted to do something useful, so we decided to dedicate our lives to children."
They eventually adopted four children — Wilson, Janet, Lisa and Jason. The family has been living in Marion Township for the past seven years.
According to his parents, Wilson Algrim liked to draw action figures and graphic designs.
"He was quite an artist," Don Algrim said.
Judy Algrim said he wanted to get know other cultures, and liked sports such as basketball and soccer.
Wilson Algrim attended Howell Public Schools for a short time, but since he had never gone to school in Columbia, he was far behind his classmates.
"The kids didn't know their colors," Judy Algrim said. "He couldn't count even at 8 years old."
To get the kind of education Wilson Algrim needed, he was sent to Michigan Youth Challenge Academy at Fort Custer Training Center in Augusta, near Battle Creek. Don Algrim said the challenge program is comparable to a high school program, but it give students a lot of extra help as far as tutoring and vocational education. Wilson Algrim graduated from that program two years ago in December 2004.
"After going through that program, he decided he wanted to join the National Guard," his father said.
Wilson Algrim went into basic training at Fort Benning, Ga., in January 2005. He returned to Michigan and was a member of Michigan Army National Guard, 125th Infantry Battalion, based in Big Rapids.
The last time both Don and Judy got to see Wilson was in May, when the battalion deployed for Fort Dix, N.J. where soldiers spent four to six weeks on mission-specific training before leaving for a year-long tour in Iraq in August. The 125th Infantry Battalion provided security for main supply routes and assisted in training Iraqi forces.
No memorial services have been planned yet.
I would like to say thank you to you and the other soldiers who were in that vehicle with you for your service and sacrifice for our Country. And to your family and loved ones, I wish to extend my deepest sympathy.
"Yield To None"(125th Inf. Motto)