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Politics & Government

Mayor Proclaims June 27 as Kyle Malin Day in Lakeville

Wounded soldier coming back home after life-altering injuries sustained in Afghanistan. Minnesota Twins also honoring Malin.

Monday, June 27 has been proclaimed Kyle Malin day in Lakeville. Mayor Mark Bellows read the proclamation during the city council’s regularly scheduled meeting on Monday evening. Malin, a Lakeville native and 2002 Farmington High School graduate, will be returning to Lakeville this week for the first time since returning from combat duty in Afghanistan.

His story has also prompted the Minnesota Twins to honor him by inviting him to raise the American flag prior to their home game on the same day.

Malin was a three-sport athlete and two-time state wrestling tournament qualifier while in high school. But the battles he fought in competition could in no way compare to the battles Malin would soon encounter.

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After three tours of duty in Iraq, Malin was deployed to Afghanistan in June of 2010 as part of a concentrated effort to disrupt Taliban supply lines in the notorious Kandahar Province. Staff Sergeant Malin was working out of Combat Outpost (COP) Nolen with the 101st Airborne when his life forever altered by a homemade Improvised Explosive Device (IED) in the pomegranate and grape fields of the Arghandab Valley. The valley was home to some of the most intense fighting of the war to date in the summer of 2010.

The soldiers at COP Nolen had been faced with near-daily attacks of their mud-walled compound for approximately three weeks since establishing their position. Almost like clockwork, when the stifling heat of the Afghan sun began to melt away, Taliban rocket grenades, mortar and rifle fire would heat up.

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Dangerous as those routine assaults were, the overwhelming cause of the heavy casualties sustained by Malin’s outfit came from IEDs. The area around COP Nolen was constantly littered with the crude devices and venturing anywhere outside the mud walls and razor-wire compound meant every step could become fatal.

On July 12 outside the compound, a fellow soldier had just lost a leg and three fingers on his left hand after stepping on an IED. Malin was part of a quick reaction force that was coming to the aid and defense of the wounded soldier. While responding to the call for help, Malin himself fell victim to an IED and sustained injuries that resulted in the loss of both of his legs. Within an hour, another soldier from COP Nolen would fall in the same manner.

Malin has undergone multiple surgeries since his IED encounter. After spending time at Walter Reed Medical Center, Malin is currently at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas. The facility is home to Brooke Army Medical Center.

“We cannot imagine what it would be like as parents of our soldiers that take these multiple combat tours and then to receive call saying that your son has been severely injured in an IED explosion,” said Terry Branham, a representative from Lakeville Yellow Ribbon, a community organization in partnership with the city that helps returning veterans and their families with a variety of assistance resources. “And then to find out that he has lost both of his legs.”

Branham was on hand to introduce Malin’s family who accepted the official proclamation on behalf of Kyle who will travel from Texas later this week. After Malin was injured, Lakeville Yellow Ribbon provided child care assistance for Malin’s two young sons, and home maintenance and other support to Malin’s wife, parents and family so they could focus on helping Malin recover.

“The reality of what Staff Sergeant Malin and his family have gone through on behalf of our country is overwhelming to think about,” said Branham. “And it shows us what great character and heroes that our city can raise as well.”

Branham praised Malin’s family members as well.

“When you think about the day to day physical and emotional battles that a young man must confront when his life has been completely altered,” he said. “Or about the sacrifices that a wife with two young sons must deal with as she holds her family together while sharing her husband’s struggles or tying to imagine what their parents are worrying, watching and helping as their son and his family rebuild their lives…when you think about these things, they are truly exceptional people who we consider heroes and role models for our community.”

As part of Lakeville’s Kyle Malin Day, all residents are encouraged to fly the American flag or display a yellow ribbon on June 27. Yellow ribbons will be available for residents at City Hall, the city’s three liquor stores, the water treatment facility and maintenance facility beginning Wednesday. Donations will be accepted but are not required for the free ribbons.

“This is just a small way for Kyle’s home community to show and extend our thanks to Staff Sergeant Malin and the entire Malin family for their sacrifice,” said Bellows. “And a way to say welcome home, Kyle.”

Malin’s father, Jon, thanked the council and Mayor for the honor.

“Kyle spent all of his childhood growing up in Lakeville,” said the Malin’s father. “He has a strong spirit and he never looks back. He always looks forward to the next challenge and this will help him in his recovery, I’m sure. We really appreciate it.”

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