Michael J. Wiggins dies from non-combat injury

U.S. military officials still do not know what caused the death of a 26-year-old East Cleveland man who died Tuesday while on duty in Iraq.

Staff Sgt. Michael J. Wiggins, a 1998 graduate of Shaw High School, died of a noncombat injury, according to the U.S. Department of Defense.

His parents, Valerie and Anthony Wiggins of East Cleveland, learned Tuesday of their son's death, which remains under investigation

The endless stream of visitors to the Wiggins home over the last few days is testament to the kind of person he was, said his mother. She said it was difficult to talk about her son, who had an athletic build and was a runner at Shaw.

Wiggins, who died in Balad, about 60 miles north of Baghdad, was assigned to the 79th Explosive Ordnance Disposal Battalion out of Fort Sam Houston in Texas.

He went to Iraq as an ammunition specialist on Oct. 29 after being stationed in Kuwait.

Family members said Wiggins was a standout on the Shaw High School cross-country team and a member of the school's Reserve Officer Training Corps.

He did not have to study much, but he excelled academically at Shaw, his parents said.

Funeral services are pending.

From the Plain Dealer