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Warrior Down
We are saddened by the passing of Mike Gorman, crew chief in Air Cavalry Troop during Vietnam. The eulogy below was given by Doc Bahnsen at the request of Mike's daughter, Kimberly.
In Memory of Mike Gorman by
Doc Bahnsen The first time I met Mike he
was smiling and the last time I saw him he had the same smile. Mike was my crew
chief when I reported to the Air Cavalry Troop, 11th Armored Cavalry
Regiment in Sep 1968. He flew with me every day until he was seriously wounded
on 23 Jan 1969 sitting behind me in our UH-1. I believe that the enemy soldiers that shot at us that day
were aiming at me and hit Mike. Mike survived being shot but was paralyzed from the waist
down for the rest of his life.
Every time I talked to him
after that he always told me that he would do what he did all over again. I am
certain he had regrets as to his condition, but he never uttered a discouraging
comment about his lot in life. He accepted his condition and lived fully with his
disability. He worked in the VA helping other veterans with their disabilities
and was a source of inspiration to everyone who knew him.
I visited Mike one time in
his home town in Vermont. He lived by himself in a cabin in the woods and was
totally independent. He could get in and out of his truck and into his wheel chair
without help. The restaurant we dined at that evening was like a family to him;
everyone knew him and talked to him with obvious affection. Mike made friends
wherever he traveled.
Mike was also a great friend
to several of his fellow soldiers paying their way to reunions and helping them
when they needed help.
During our time in combat I
am certain that Mike questioned some of the decisions I made in flying and
commanding Air Cavalry Troop, but he loyally did his duty, kept our helicopter
flying, and rode into the storm with me and the rest of our crew. We took a lot of rounds in our
helicopter and we saw the enemy up close and personal. Mike never wavered in
his performance of his duty.
Mike's pride and joy was his
daughter Kimberly and her children. He always updated me about them when we
wrote or talked.
Mike and I had our last
conversation on the telephone when I called him to inform him of Mike Bates
death in early Feb this year. He told me his body was failing and that he would
not be far behind Mr Bates. I asked him to hang on until I could see him in
May. It was not to be. He told me that he was at peace with himself and that
his Catholic faith was reassuring to him. He told me he had beat all the odds
for over 41 years and that it had been a good life. He was able to see his
daughter grow up, get married and have children and those things were
important. He loved his service in
the 11th ACR and counted his friends from that unit as his closest.
Mike was a superb soldier, a
caring, loyal friend, a loving Father, and a true American Patriot. He was
proud of his service in the Army and everyone who knew him felt that pride.
Mike made a lot of the 11th ACR's reunions and was an outgoing, warm
friend to all who got to know him. I will miss his smile and his
positive approach to life. He was a loyal soldier in combat and in peacetime
and was my friend. | 
