I've know Mike for over 20 years and when he was the I&I for the 4th Force Recon unit in Alameda, CA. He was in Iraq as a Force Recon Company Commander and Afghanistan training their Special Forces. He retired as a LtCol but could have made full Colonel if he went back to Afghanistan. He declined and retired to spend time with his two young daughters and family.
Sometimes on weekends I'd drop off my 10 year old son at the reserve unit to spend the day doing stuff with Mike and the other Marines. His guys did "PT" by playing a version of Rugby while in combat boots and full body armor.
I'm not sure of all of his awards but he did get a Bronze Star "V" for pulling one of his WIA Marines out of a firefight.
The Marines in the local area (Contra costa County, CA) would get together for lunch once a month and discuss stuff and see what we can do to help other Marines in the area.
Mike was one of the guys who started the The California 600, a 600-mile (6 days, 100 miles/day)) charitable ride that starts in San Francisco and concludes at Del Mar Beach, Camp Pendleton in San Diego County. Historically, the route roughly follows the corridor of El Camino Real, which historically linked 21 Spanish missions across California.
That started the annual Sentinels of Freedom bike ride fundraiser which I participated in with a team riding 100 miles. I declined on the 600 mile ride.
He didn't mention it but he was also in Ukraine in 2011 training Ukrainian Marines. He did a fundraiser for a Ukrainian Marine he trained and worked with who was killed.
link
The interviewer is a Marine who served with Mike in Iraq. It a very humble and heart felt interview that really brings out his personal experiences, challenges and responsibilities of leading men into combat. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
Full 3:37 hour interview: YouTube link
Short video clips:
Losing two men: YouTube link
Iraqi House Battle: YouTube link
Knowing when to retire: YouTube link
Wolfhag
tackles two subjects from his favorite sculptor.
