Blake A. Whistler, 25

Staff Sgt. Blake A. Whistler, assigned to 4th Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne), died during a non-combat-related incident on March 18, 2012.

He was born July 27, 1986, in Billings.

Staff Sgt. Whistler, 25 years of age and from Bigfork, joined the Army in February 2004. Following the completion of Basic and Advanced Individual Training, he was stationed at Fort Bragg, N.C., Fort Carson, Colo., and Fort Lewis, Wash., as a human resources specialist. Staff Sgt. Whistler transitioned to being a welder while at Fort Lewis. From March 2009 to January 2011, he attended the Special Forces Qualification Course at Fort Bragg. He joined the 4th Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) on Fort Carson in May 2011, where he served with distinction as a special forces engineer sergeant. His deployments include two tours in Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Staff Sgt. Whistler's military education and training include Airborne School, the Warrior Leader Course, the Combat Life Saver Course, Modern Army Combatives Program-Level One and Two, the SERB Course, the Advanced Leader Course, and the Special Forces Qualification Course.

His awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal, the Joint Service Achievement Medal with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster, the Army Achievement Medal with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster, the Army Good Conduct Medal with 1 Clasp, the National Defense Service Medal, the Iraqi Campaign Medal with 2 Service Stars, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon with Numeral 2 Device, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the Special Forces Tab, the Parachutist Badge, the Driver and Mechanic Badge, and the Expert Marksmanship Qualification Badge.

He is survived by his wife Amy, son Brayton, and daughters Andreah and Arianna; parents, Michael K. and Jill D. (Pool) Whistler; brothers and sisters, Trevor Bolivar and wife, Diana, Bridget Hyde and husband, Jason, Karrie Bolivar, Aimee Rodriguez and husband, Chico, Nichelle Martin and husband, Shawn, Melody Rozniewski, Cecily Whistler, Kam Mideke and Michael Mideke; and nieces and nephews, Troy, Brianna and Brandi Bolivar, Adam and Evan Hyde, Tre, Ethan and Ryeln Rodriguez, and Vance and Kaleb Martin.

Burial took place March 24 at Fort Logan National Cemetery in Denver.