Maj. Gen. Michael “Iron Mike” D. Healy passes
The Fayetteville Observer reports that Major General Michael D. Healy, known as “Iron Mike” passed this last Saturday in his Jacksonville, Florida home;
When he retired in 1981, Maj. Gen. Healy was the nation’s most senior Special Forces soldier. He was a veteran of wars in Korea and Vietnam, with his service in the latter spanning a decade and ending with him overseeing the withdrawal of troops from the country. And he was the inspiration for John Wayne’s character, “Col. Iron Mike Kirby,” in the 1968 film “The Green Berets.”
Maj. Gen. Healy is also a former commander of the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School at Fort Bragg…By the end of his career, Maj. Gen. Healy had earned numerous awards and decorations, including a Distinguished Service Medal, two Silver Star Medals, a Legion of Merit with three oak-leaf clusters, a Distinguished Flying Cross, a Bronze Star Medal with valor device, an Air Medal with Valor device, a Navy Commendation Medal with valor device and two Purple Heart Medals. He is also a member of the Officer Candidate School Hall of Fame.
According to SWCS, Maj. Gen. Healy was “known by his men for his loyalty, compassion and love, as much for his tenacity in war.”
Maj. Gen. Healy was a native of Chicago who enlisted in the Army at the age of 19 at the end of World War II.
Category: We Remember
Hope they have two burial plots ready, one for him and one for his balls.
Godspeed General. Enjoy Valhalla.
RIP Maj. Gen.
Love that Picture!
I know he wasn’t a sailor but “Fair Winds And Following Seas”.
That mustache though…
I stand in awe of such men, and question whether or not I measure up. I then realize I fall far short, but am happy to know that I served in the same military as badasses like this.
RIP Sir.
Atkron,
Gotta love that ‘stache!
I wonder if he was channeling “Mad Jack” Churchill, but with a better moustache than Jack’s regimental style.
Totally agree that General Iron Mike is one BAMF with a huge set of tungsten ‘nads.
Naw, he was channeling Col. Lewis Millett.
http://www.asalives.org/ASAONLINE/lmtoday.gif
Exactly what Atkron said.
Atkron only said it implicitly, deep between the lines; both I and CDR_C were explicit.
(^_^)
Here’s what a real ‘tache entails
RIP
I thought he died a couple years back truthfully.
The Grim Reaper showed up and the general gave him that look shown above. To which the Reaper said, “I’m sorry to have disturbed you sir, I’ll come back later.”
And then, the Reaper asked for permission to withdraw…………..
Another Warrior joins his Comrades in Valhalla, R.I.P. Sir.
I first learned about Iron Mike while at PSYOP AIT. One of the fellow trainees made a disparaging remark about a certain female drill instructor not knowing his office sat right above the drill’s office and the heating vent carried sound quite nicely.
She ruck marched us to Maj. Gen. Healy’s statue and proceeded to tell us all about him while we “Iron Mike’d” it along the road next to the golf course.
It was very educational.
Two cast iron brass and a brass rod. Rest easy General. We will try to maintain your standard.
Trying to grow, let alone maintain that ‘stash is going to be tough.
Rest in peace General. I am thankful they still make men like you, though few and far between and it is because of your leadership and inspiration.
Must be something about those ‘staches’!
RIP General. I’ll bet you are having a grand reunion with Lew Millett.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lewis_Millett
I just sent this link to my two SF sons. May God rest your soul, Maj. Gen. Healy.
Scuttlebutt is that he “passed” because he had orders to go after death itself…..
Save us a place at the table, badass.
Erm, I mean Sir. 😉
Gunny Ermey, Iron Mike, the world of the living Veteran is getting much smaller these days.
As I meet and work with the young Veterans, I firmly believe that the snowflakes are only window dressing for the millennials and that the real people that will be leading this country are the Veterans and the rest of the hard working ones we are so lucky to have in America.
Rest easy General, Mission Accomplished…
Rest in Peace, Sir.
A true Special Forces legend. Year’s ago I attended a function that MG (Ret) Healy was one of the guest speakers. Also in attendance was the legendary father of Special Forces Col Aaron Bank and at that time Maj Robert Howard one of the baddest men to ever walk on this rock.
Tony180A,
Thanks for mentioning Robert Howard,much to my embarrassment, I had to look up COL Howard. Im glad I did. Holy Hell.
What a guy.
Thanks again!
Dinotanker when Maj Howard was the OIC of Phase 1 of the Q course at Camp Mackall he would ruck from main post Ft Bragg to Camp Mackall then do the graded 12 mile ruck with the students then ruck back to main post Ft Bragg.
Good evening all. First let me say thanks to all of you. It sounds like most of you all have served, or are family members that have served, in the United States Armed Forces. Thank you for your service to our country.
I am one of Iron Mike’s grandchildren. Like many of you, I find inspiration in one of America’s tough guys. My grandfather loved God, his family, and the USA. He didn’t tell many stories, but when he did I listened. I was always hungry for a lesson in leadership. The one lesson I always took away was this. Care for the men under your command. Care for those around you in your team. In a bigger sense, Iron Mike was teaching me The Golden Rule.
Again, thank you for your service. Thank you to the families who support the mission of freedom in the USA.
God Bless.
Timothy Healy II
Mike Healy was my brother in laws Dad and simply the most interesting man you’d ever want to talk to! A true hero And a great man!
RIP Mike!