Mike was drafted into the Army in January 1967 where he signed up for 101st Airborne
"I would like to nominate our hero Michael (Mike) Greslie. Sept. 28, 1944-Sept. 8, 2014.
Mike was drafted into the Army in January 1967 where he signed up for 101st Airborne. After his basic training and jump school he got leave and came home and married his sweetheart Cheryl on September 24, 1967. He immediately returned to Fort Campbell, KY and within the week was on the US Navy Ship General Weigel on his way to Vietnam.
While anchored in Subic Bay, on October 6, 1967, Mike saved a fellow soldier from drowning that had fallen over board and later received an Award of the Soldiers Medal for Heroism. He was wounded in Vietnam twice and received two purple hearts.
The second time he was wounded was February 1968, in Phan Tet. He was hit by an RPG rocket and while blacking out he heard a voice saying “If you want to live, do something”. This voice saved him. He raised his arm to wave down a passing jeep which rescued him. He spent two weeks in a hospital in Vietnam to stabilize him.
He was transported to Japan where he stayed a month and had multiple surgeries on his legs. He was then able to come home where he spent a year at the Fort Ord Hospital. He was medically discharged due to his disability and retired from the Army in March of 1969. Mike never complained about his injuries. His one leg was an inch or two shorter than the other and required a special shoe to help him walk.
Mike Greslie has been a member of the American Mule Association since the first year it was organized. His number is 62C; the C stands for Charter Member. He has been attending Bishop Mule Days since 1973 and he enjoyed participating in the events in the early years. He liked the fun events and won Musical Tires one year and the stands booed him because he beat a girl.
He liked run ride & lead, and the cowhide race. He rode in the Mule Days Parade with the family. He also rode in the Rose Parade for two years with AMA. He has been trailering his family to Mule and AMA events since 1973, and always enjoyed visiting with the friends he made at these shows. Mike and his family packed into the Sierra’s for over 25 years and made some lifelong friends in the back country. He enjoyed hunted on horseback in the Sierra’s, Colorado, and Utah.
He loved his family and spent his life giving them everything they needed and a lot of times just things they wanted. Mike and Cheryl have 4 daughters; Jonnie, Miki, Jennielee and Megan, one son; Michael, two son-in-laws; Bodie Stroud and Billy Christ, one daughter-in-law Laurel Lane. Mike loved his grandkids; Clayton, Bodie, Blue & Baylie.
Mike, is greatly missed and remembered as a loving and caring Husband, Daddy, Grandpa , Brother, Uncle, Cousin, Best Friend, Friend, Mentor and Hero!" - Erin Treanor
Comments
Post a Comment