FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. — Staff Sgt. Michael Swinton, a 30-year-old soldier from Fort Bragg, returned home Monday to Fayetteville, North Carolina, his flag-draped casket met by grieving family members at Fayetteville Regional Airport. His wife, Mia Gonzalez-Swinton, and their 4-year-old daughter were present for the solemn ceremony. The military honored Swinton with a traditional water cannon salute upon the charter jet's arrival.
Swinton died July 19 in Iraq while on a mission to dispose of a downed drone assessed as Iranian. His remains, along with those of three other Army soldiers, were transported to the United States last week.
The dignified transfer ceremony began days earlier at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware. President Donald Trump, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Army Secretary Dan Driscoll and Gen. Dan Cain received the fallen service members. The officials spent approximately three hours with the soldiers' families before the public transfer.
Mia Gonzalez-Swinton described her reaction to learning of her husband's death. "My stomach dropped," she said Monday on "Fox & Friends First." "I remember feeling sick almost. I felt like I was watching myself."
Following the airport ceremony, a procession escorted Swinton's remains toward Hope Mills, North Carolina. Patriot Guard Riders joined the motorcade.
Swinton died while disposing of a drone linked by U.S. intelligence to Iranian-backed militias, which have been tied to the proliferation of drones and rocket attacks targeting American personnel in Iraq and Syria.
The White House has condemned attacks on U.S. personnel in the Middle East. Trump has maintained a firm stance against Iranian aggression, authorizing retaliatory measures in response to prior incidents.
An a North Carolina native and father, Swinton will be laid to rest following a funeral service scheduled for Saturday at Southview Baptist Church.
