This page is dedicated to a True American Hero

There is no greater gift that can ever be given.
To be willing to die, so another might live.

Olivieri, Michael C. "Mikey"

Modell Funeral Home - Homer Glen

PFC. Michael C. "Mikey" Olivieri
U.S. Army 1st Battalion, 7th Field Artillery Regiment,
2nd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division
at Fort Riley, KS, passed away as a result of insurgent fire
in Iraq on June 6, 2011. Cherished husband of
Sharon Olivieri. Loving son of Michael A. and Jody Olivieri.
Devoted brother of Abby (fiance Adam Brook), Ashley and Joe. Dearest grandson of Joseph J. and Adelaide Olivieri,
Dorothy and the late Rolland Riegel.
Son-in-law of Nyman and Theresa Beckman.
Visitation Wed. 2 p.m. until time of evening service 7:30 p.m.
at Modell Funeral Home, 12641 W. 143rd St., Homer Glen,
where funeral services will be held on
Thursday June 16th at 10 a.m.
Interment Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Homer Township Public Library
in Michael's name to support a silent reading room appreciated. Michael enjoyed music, playing and singing in the band called the Moops. He was an avid Cubs and Bears fan. His sense of humor could bring laughter to all.

In his hometown of Homer Glen, Army Pfc. Michael C. Olivieri
was a member of a small band and would often break out
his guitar and play for friends and family, his wife said.
When his commander in Iraq learned Olivieri was a musician,
he asked the soldier to perform at the Christmas service on base.
After that, Olivieri used music to entertain fellow soldiers,
said his wife, Sharon Olivieri.

"He really knew how to connect with people," she said.
"He was always laughing and making jokes. He'd slow down
and really talk to people.

"They allowed him to keep the guitar," she said.
"He said it was such a wonderful thing."

Michael Olivieri grew up in Homer Glen and attended school there.
A 2002 graduate of  Lockport Township High School,
Olivieri attended Southern Illinois University for a while.

Last year, unsure about what career he wanted to pursue,
he decided to enlist and serve his country.

"Mikey had a big heart and he wanted to help others," his wife said.
"He wanted to contribute something big."

Originally he was going to enlist with a close friend,
but when that friend had to delay his plans, Olivieri signed up anyway.

A Homer Glen man was among five* soldiers who were killed Monday 6/6/11 in Iraq.

Pfc. Michael C. Olivieri, 26, and four others belonging to the
1st Infantry Division in Fort Riley, Kan., were killed in Baghdad when insurgents
launched an attack on their base, division officials.

The attack on Monday was one of the deadliest days for soldiers assigned to
Fort Riley since the war in Iraq began in 2003.

1st Infantry Division officials said the men were killed when insurgents attacked their base.
The soldiers were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 7th Field Artillery Regiment.

Killed in the attack were
Spc. Emilio J. Campo Jr., 20, of Madelia, Minnesota;
Spc. Michael B. Cook Jr., 27, from Middleton, Ohio;
Spc. Christopher B. Fishbeck, 24, of Victorville, California;
Spc. Robert P. Hartwick, 20, from Rockbridge, Ohio;
Pfc. Michael C. Olivieri, 26, from Chicago.
*Spc. Marcos A. Cintron, 32, of Orlando, died later in a Boston hospital.
Twenty soldiers were injured in the attack.

“We are deeply saddened by the loss of these young heroes and our thoughts and prayers go out to their families,” said Lt. Col. Andrew Gainey, the soldiers’ battalion commander.

“They were all outstanding soldiers, outstanding people
and most importantly, our good friends.”

The soldiers deployed to Iraq in November 2010.
They were part of the 2nd Advise and Assist Brigade, supporting the development
of Iraq forces and the improvement of civilian life in central Iraq.

Each of the soldiers had served less than two years
and each was on his first deployment.

U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, a Kansas Republican, noted that the soldiers
died on the 67th anniversary of the D-Day landings in France in 1944.
During that invasion, soldiers from the 1st Infantry Division
were among the first to wade ashore.

“These brave young men answered the call to serve our country,
and Americans are forever indebted to them for their service and sacrifice,”
Moran said in a statement.

From survivor Matthew Thomas
"Those serving feel there is no duty too difficult,
and no sacrifice too great,”
to protect the country, he said.
“The ultimate sacrifice of these six
soldiers may help save
thousands in the U.S.
by avoiding a terrorist attack”
on American soil.
“We had to help with casualties
and secure the base,” he said.
“The attack was from a ‘bongo'
truck (a small box truck)
with six or seven rockets hidden inside.”
He said the truck got by Iraq
Federal Police near the American base.
The U.S. Quick Reaction Force
later found the vehicle.
He said just prior to the June 6 attack,
he saw media reports
that anti-American protestors
were active around Baghdad.

Students from Lockport High School and hundreds of residents watch the funeral procession for Pfc. Michael C. “Mikey” Olivieri, U.S. Army at Bell Road and 159th Street in Homer Glen.

Joe Torrillo, Lt. F.D.N.Y. retired (left), helps unfurl The Patriot Flag at the funeral for U.S. Army Pfc. Michael Olivieri on 143rd Street near Modell Funeral Home in Homer Glen, Illinois, Thursday, June, 16, 2011. Torrillo was pulled from the rubble of the collapsed twin towers on September, 11, 2001. He now travels with the flag as a tribute to public safety personnel, the armed forces and the families of the fallen on September 11, 2001.

Part of the funeral procession in Homer Glen for Army Pfc. Michael C. Olivieri.

Members of the Homer Township and Northwest Homer Township fire departments salute the hearse carrying the casket of U.S. Army Pfc. Michael Olivieri on 143rd Street in Homer Glen, Illinois, Thursday, June, 16, 2011.

Illinois Governor Pat Quinn arrives at the funeral for U.S. Army Pfc. Michael Olivieri at Modell Funeral Home in Homer Glen, Illinois.

Chicago Sun-Times

Fort Riley Memorial Page.

"Dagger" Brigade Holds Memorial Services
for Fallen Soldiers (July 6, 2011)

BAGHDAD—Five fallen Soldier battle crosses and portraits, representing from left, Spc. Emilio J. Campo Jr., Spc. Robert P. Hartwick, Spc. Michael B. Cook Jr., Spc. Christopher B. Fishbeck, and Pfc. Michael C. Olivieri, stand atop a platform prior to a memorial service for the five fallen Soldiers, all of whom were assigned to 1st “First Lightning” Battalion, 7th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Advise and Assist Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, United States Division – Center, June 9, 2011 at Joint Security Station Loyalty, Iraq. These Soldiers died June 6, and a sixth, Spc. Marcos A. Cintron, died June 16 from wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked their unit with indirect fire. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Daniel Stoutamire, 2nd AAB, 1st Inf. Div., USD-C)

Vice President Joe Biden and his wife Dr. Jill Biden are joined by the Joint Chiefs of Staffs, GEN Martin Dempsy and his wife, Deanie, at the 18th Annual Tragedy Assistance Program Seminar held in Arlington, VA on 05/28/2012

Mike & Sharon are picutured in the upper left corner of the video.

Mike's Band The Moops.

Playing "The Rain Song"
at the memorial service.

Downloadable Version (.avi 11.5megs)

Though your life was cut short, your memory
will live on in our hearts forever.

The flag is at half staff in front of Northwest Homer Fire Protection District station 2 in honor of fallen soldier Michael Olivieri in Homer Glen, Illinois, Friday, June, 10, 2011. | Joseph P. Meier~Sun-Times Media