Flags At Half-Staff To Honor Fallen Soldier

Gov. Jennifer Granholm has ordered flags to be flown at half-staff statewide on the day of the funeral for a soldier from Michigan who died after being wounded in an attack in Afghanistan.

Flags are to be lowered Wednesday in honor of 20-year-old Army Spc. Joseph T. Prentler, who died Oct. 4 in Mama Kariz after insurgents attacked his military vehicle using an improvised explosive device.

Prentler is from Fenwick, about 32 miles northeast of Grand Rapids. His funeral service was to take place at Greenville Community Church, with burial to follow at Fort Custer National Cemetery in Augusta.

Prentler was known as "Joey.'' He was assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment based in Vilseck, Germany.

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