Marine Colonel Dies From Iraq Injuries

Cause of Md. Military Lawyer's Wounds 'Non-Hostile,' but Few Details Released By Katherine Shaver and Josh White Washington Post Staff Writers Thursday, October 9, 2008; Page B02 A Marine colonel and military lawyer from Chevy Chase died Sunday of injuries he suffered in Iraq this summer, making him one of the highest-ranking officers to have died in the war, Pentagon officials said yesterday. Col. Michael R. Stahlman, 45, was injured July 31 in a "non-hostile" incident in Anbar province, military officials said. "Non-hostile incident" is the military term for deaths unrelated to combat, such as from illness, accident, suicide or homicide. Defense officials said Stahlman's death is under investigation but is not believed to be a homicide; they did not elaborate. Two friends said Stahlman suffered a gunshot wound and never... [read full story]