My Friend mike

My Friend Mike

I just got home (misty-eyed) after viewing the film "Last full measure, which was the story of the 30-year quest to get the medal of honor for the actions of Airman Pittsenbarger in Vietnam. I could not help thinking of my friend Mike that Cross-trained from Power Production to Pararescue.  Mike worked for me as a Power production technician. Meaning I wrote his evaluation and was a friend, mentor, and advocate for him during the time we traveled in the same orbit. I remember him for a couple of things, the 1st being his ambition to do more than being a generator mechanic/electrician. We talked several times, and I encouraged him to be whatever he wanted to be. He was the kind of airman that it was easy for me to write an evaluation.   He was a superior technician, was always. Squared away" (to honor my marine friends). He was the epitome of a Firewall 5 on his evaluations, which was the highest rating that was possible to give in all aspects of his work, demeanor, and appearance. He did things the right way every time without fail. This is not to say that he did not have challenges. He had some family issues that merited command scrutiny, which will not be mentioned but had to be addressed. In the matters of his evaluation and his request to cross-train into The Pararescue Career field. I was ordered to report to the commander's office. (accompanied by my 1st sergeant) to discuss the issue that received command attention. Which was not of his doing, but was handled successfully and to the letter of the regulation.  Mike was being called to account for the actions of a family member that on the surface did not look good from a Command interest perspective. However, as stated before, mike did everything in his power to distance himself from that situation, but I will admit it did not present look when viewed from the outside. 

           In the commander's office, it was requested that I modify his evaluation to reflect on how the situation looked. To which I respectfully declined. I was retiring in less than six months, and I was not inclined to do the "political thing" I was back in the office when his request to cross-train was questioned for the same reason once again I was not inclined to not recommend him for the position that he requested.  We used to run the "Hot Test" for our 750KW generators every month, of which there were many, a virtual sea of desert tan smoke-spewing electricity-producing goodness. We worked together on a problem that was blowing resistors randomly while the units were under load. This running data was provided as feedback to the manufacturer. To develop a modification to the design to prevent that issue from occurring in the future. During these times we talked a lot (over the roar of the engines) on how he wanted to do more with his military career I told him if that's what he wanted I would back him to the hilt because I believed in him a few months later I retired and went on to my new career in IT.

            I later found him I DOD Global Email listing and sent him emails from time to time, stating that I was very proud of him. Since he was a part of the Special Operations Community, it usually ended like this: "Mike, I don't know where you are or what is going on with you; just know I'm thinking about you and for you to be safe wherever that is." You have dinner coming from me whenever you are ready.

https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/132556/moody-rescue-crews-receive-mackay-trophy/