James D. Priestap slain by sniper

IRON MOUNTAIN — A member of the National Guard 46th Military Police Unit based in Kingsford has been killed in Iraq.

Sgt. First Class James Priestap, 39, of Hardwood in eastern Dickinson County was killed on Thanksgiving Day while on duty in Baghdad, said Sgt. 1st Class Scott Cleary of the Ishpeming National Guard.

Sgt. Priestap suffered a fatal gunshot wound, Cleary said this morning.

“That’s tough on Thanksgiving Day,” Cleary said.

Priestap and 59 other members of the 46th MP Unit out of Kingsford were deployed to Iraq on July 9.

After training at Fort Dix, N.J., for six weeks, the 46th MP were deployed to Iraq.

Priestap was married to Connie (Harder) Priestap, and was the son of Roy and Denise Forstrom of Foster City.

Priestap was a 1985 graduate of North Dickinson High School.

Mary Oman of Breitung Township, a classmate of Priestap’s, expressed thoughts about her friend.

“Jim was the type of guy that everybody liked,” Oman said. “He was a great guy to be around. You never saw him without a smile on his face.”

Further details will be announced as they are cleared through the military, said Sgt. Cleary.

No funeral arrangements have been announced.

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