Mike was a graduate of John Carroll University in 1961. He entered the ROTC program in hopes of becoming an Army officer. In his junior year he applied for Army Aviation taking fixed wing instructions at a local Cleveland airport.
Upon graduation he was offered a Regular Army commission as long as he select combat arms as his career specialty. He chose Armor then was sent to Ft. Knox, KY and later to Camp Irwin, CA for advanced desert training.
He was then offered a career in Army Aviation as a helicopter pilot. He was taught how to fly a rotary aircraft at Fort Wolters, TX and advanced training at Fort Rucker, AL.
Upon graduation he was assigned to Vietnam in the early days of the conflict flying an H-21 Sikorsky chopper. Later he was assigned to a Huey unit performing perilous duty in many combat zones. He was shot down over the coast of Vietnam and landed in the ocean. He was the sole survivor losing his crew and receiving serious, crippling injuries. He was taken off of flight status and returned to the states. He was promoted to Captain and served as transportation officer at Ft. Wolters, TX, then left the service after 8 years. Mike was awarded the Purple Heart and 7 Air Medals.
Please join us to hear resident Mike Busch’s compelling story as an Army Aviator in Vietnam.
Please note that tonight's meeting will be catered by the Green Valley Ranch Resort. The meal service will begin at 6:15 PM and the meeting will start at 7 PM