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SGT Michael C. Cable
May 17, 1986 – March 27, 2013 Michael Christopher Cable was born and raised in Owensboro, KY. He attended Berea College after graduating from Davies County High School in 2004. He joined the Army at the age of 19, served a tour in Iraq, and now his tour of duty in Afghanistan was due to end in September of 2013. When Michael’s best friend Matthew contacted me on this website with a request to paint Michael’s portrait, I remembered hearing about the tragic circumstances of this young soldier's death on the news. Sgt. Cable was guarding a meeting between Afghan and U.S. dignitaries (a swearing-in ceremony of Afghan Local Police) in the east of the country near the Pakistan border, when a teenager attacked him from behind with a knife. Michael died of stab wounds to the neck. Michael’s sister Wendy states that her brother was a hero to her......and to her two older children, ages 9 and 5, who saw their Uncle Michael as their own special GI Joe - "and now he's gone." Another sister Lisa recalls Michael's great rapport with her family and the difficulty of explaining his death to the younger ones - their three sons. Older brother Raymond reported to the press that Michael felt he could be a really good soldier. And "he wanted to help." Remembering his surprise visit home in November, the family recalls the wonderful time they had while he was here. Before leaving he had prepared himself and the family for ‘anything that might happen.’ Those who knew Michael from high school, where he was a standout cross country runner, remember his great sense of humor plus he was a generous friend who always had your back. He is described as “loving life with an attitude that was contagious.” Michael evidently lived fully in his young life. Among his many interests were golf, fishing, hunting, bonfires, poker, being on the water, competitive sports, the Green Bay Packers, and especially cross-country. Above all he loved being with his family and friends. Sgt. Cable had multiple decorations, including the Bronze Star Medal and the Purple Heart, both awarded posthumously. His mother, Vickie Johnston, states, “I am so proud of him for what he has done for the United States of America.” Michael was 26 years old. Portrait sponsored by: |