Talk:Michael D. Steele

Current life
I was under the impression that Michael Steele was now a member of the 10th Mountain Division, and had reached the rank of Colonel, because of the interview Jason Issacs gave on the special edition 3 disc box set of Black Hawk Down.

Can anyone clarify this? --The Kevin 03:25, 4 July 2006 (UTC)


 * Okay the information that he is now a Major in the 82nd Airborne Division comes from the external link that is now almost 10 years old. --The Kevin 03:39, 4 July 2006 (UTC)

Colonel Steele is currently the commander of 3rd Brigade (Rakkasans), 101st Airborne Division out of Fort Campbell, Kentucky. The Rakassans were deployed to Iraq in the Fall of 2005 and have recently returned from duty overseas.

unsourced comments
Should be noted that Gary Brecher recently covered Mr. Steele. I've moved the following from the article to the talk page:


 * COL Steele is expected to be called to testify in a criminal hearing looking into allegations of unlawful killings by US soldiers of three Iraqis during the raid. It is alleged that COL Steele had given general orders to “kill all military-age males” during operations in the area. COL Steele has signed a statement “invoking his right not to testify” in the case and it is unknown whether he will be compelled to do so.


 * Gary D. Solis, a former military judge and prosecutor who teaches the law of war at Georgetown University, was quoted in the New York Times that "It is very rare for any commanding officer to refuse to testify at any stage of a court-martial proceeding."


 * COL Steele has acquired a reputation for ruthlessness during his command in Iraq through such actions as keeping a "kill board" to tally unit kills and even giving out motivational knives to soldiers that increase that tally.


 * COL Steele is currently represented by a civilian lawyer and has not commented on the allegations alleged in the hearing.

As it needs to be rewritten to read a little less like an anti-war pamphlet. Also, I might add, it could use a source. Or three. Hugs, 66.92.170.227 10:36, 4 February 2007 (UTC)

wondering about before military..
It seems I heard/read somewhere that Steele was a member(offensive lineman?) of the National Champion Georgia Bulldogs football team?(featuring running back Herschel Walker)...could someone tell me if I'm right? I've been researching it in every search engine I can find...thanks!

Yes he was an offensive lineman for GA. and it was during the Herschel Walker era —Preceding unsigned comment added by 210.124.130.133 (talk) 11:46, 29 January 2008 (UTC)

Negative impression of him in Somalia
There's no mention of the negative portrayal of him in Mark Bowden's book Black Hawk Down: A Story of Modern War. Shouldn't it be added? (I don't have the book in front of me, otherwise I would do it. I seem to recall that neither the soldiers under his command nor the soldiers around him liking or respecting him much.) Evets70 (talk) 17:38, 15 June 2010 (UTC)

Merge proposal
I suggest Juston R. Graber stub is merged to Michael D. Steele as it currently fails the People notable for only one event guideline. Fæ (talk) 15:52, 28 December 2010 (UTC)

Agree with Merge
Graber was release from prison and stayed in the Army. He deployed to Iraq again from May 2008 to May 2009, I know I was there. There is not enough information on him, for him to have his own wiki page. Do it. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Icearmy2000 (talk • contribs) 03:01, 21 March 2011 (UTC)

Code Name "Textrure". Comment
Fmr Secy of Defense Rumsfeld referred to Steele by the code name "Texture" in all correspondence to the White House.User:JCHeverly 03:45, 5 November 2013 (UTC)