"Heroes Live Forever" - the story of Fond du Lac (WI) Patrol Officer Craig Birkholz

He survived military deployments in Afghanistan and Iraq, but this U.S. Army veteran was killed fighting another battle on the streets of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.

Fond du Lac (WI) Patrol Officer Craig Birkholz

McLean, VA (March 25, 2025) - On March 20, 2011, Fond du Lac (WI) Patrol Officer Craig Birkholz, 28, responded to a call that a fellow officer had been shot. As Officer Birkholz arrived on scene and exited his vehicle, the suspect emerged and ambushed him, shooting him fatally in the upper chest—right above his ballistic vest. Officer Ryan Williams and his K-9 partner Grendel were also shot, and another officer was injured. Remarkably, all three survived. A couple of years before he was shot and killed in law enforcement service, Officer Birkholz had expressed how his military combat experience had prepared him for the future. He was a U.S. Army veteran who had served in both Afghanistan and Iraq. During an interview with students from his college, Officer Birkholz was asked about his time in the military and what he had learned. He said, “If I can make it through that, I can make it through anything.” These haunting words are a powerful reminder of the violent, deadly nature of the war on crime and terror being waged on the streets of America and around the world. U.S. law enforcement officers—like those who serve in the military—risk their lives every single day for our safety and protection, both within our borders and overseas. Listen to the podcast to learn more: https://open.substack.com/pub/behindbadge/p/heroes-live-forever-the-story-of-476?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web