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He was a good buddy of mine in High school, I just got the news. Soldier from Norcross dies helping others Michael Hullender, a medic, is killed in Iraq By D. AILEEN DODD The Atlanta Journal-Constitution The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Published on: 05/02/07 The U.S. Army will award two posthumous medals to a Norcross High School graduate killed over the weekend while serving in the war on terrorism. Sgt. Michael Hullender, 29, was killed when he stepped on a bomb in Iraq. The medic was helping fallen soldiers when he died, military officials said. "He is receiving a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart,'' said Maj. Dennis Hilpiper, a mortuary case manager with the U.S. Army based in Alexandria, Va. "The military will present those awards to the family.'' Hullender is the son of Ren Hullender, a former Fine Arts Department chairman of North Gwinnett High School. The educator retired last year after a long career with the Gwinnett County Public School system. He was looking forward to pursuing his doctorate. "It was a dream deferred because he was a single father supporting his (children)," said Richard Siegesmund a UGA, associate professor at Lamar Dodd School of Art. "He really sacrificed for them. Michael was so important to him. It's a grievous loss." Michael Hullender was planning a wedding in 2008. Now, his family is making funeral arrangements. Military officials are preparing to fly his body home soon. Michael Hullender will receive a military burial with full honors. Flanigan Funeral Home in Buford is handling the arrangements. Burial will be in Broadlawn Memorial Garden. Friends of the Hullenders at Norcross High School and at the Lamar Dodd School of Art at UGA say they are waiting to help the family in any way the can. "We are a very tight-knit group," said Siegesmund from UGA. As a first-year doctoral student Ren Hullender had made a name for himself. They day before his son died, Ren received a departmental award from UGA for his outstanding work as a classroom teacher. Siegesmund has taken over closing out Hullender's classes as he mourns the loss of his son. The dad's studies are on hold. Again. "The pain around this is immense at this point," Siegesmund said. "We are standing by to do what we can."
