Private First Class

24 year old Michael Gallagher was a single, Caucasian male from Dearborn Heights, Michigan.  He was KIA while performing duties as the door gunner on a UH-1 aircraft on May 21, 1967. The aircraft he was assigned to was performing a combat aviation rescue  mission of a downed 281st Crew. Michael was lowering a jungle penetrator to the downed crew when he was struck by small arms fire.  Michael was the only member of the crew was hit by hostile fire.   Michael joined the 281st AHC on March 08, 1967.  His name is inscribed on the Vietnam Memorial wall on panel 20E-line 73.

Private First Class Michael Patrick Gallagher was born February 12, 1943, to James 

and Virginia Gallagher of Detroit, Michigan.  Michael attended elementary school

there and graduated from the Detroit Cathedral High School in Detroit. During

his high school years, he lived with his Aunt and Uncle, Mary and Emmett Rossiter

and his cousins, Terry, Katy, Bob, Patty, Brian, Tom, Mary,  and Sharon Rossiter who have good memories of Michael.  Michael had half-brothers, Jim, Miles, Matt, and a half-sister, Trish Griffin, who was born after his death.  Efforts to reach his mother and immediate family members have failed.   

After graduation, Michael worked for Detroit Edison until 1966.  During this time, he met and married his wife, Joann Johnson.  They had two daughters, Theresa A. and Kathleen.  The marriage ended in divorce in May of 1966 but they had made plans to remarry upon his return from Vietnam.  According to official military records, Michael was drafted into the Army in May, 1966, attending Basic and Advanced Training as a cook at Ft. Knox, Kentucky.  In October, 1966, Michael was assigned to the 3^rd ID in Germany where he volunteered to be a Heavy Truck Driver.  Apparently not liking this situation, he volunteered to be a door gunner in Vietnam.  In March, 1967, he was reassigned to the 281^st AHC in Vietnam.  

Michael performed his duties as a gunner on a UH-1 aircraft until the day he was killed on May 21, 1967.  The aircraft he was assigned to was performing a combat aviation rescue mission of a downed 281^st AHC crew in the Ashau Valley.  Michael was lowering a jungle penetrator to the downed crew when he was struck by small arms fire through the chest.  Michael was the only one of the rescue aircraft hit by hostile fire.  Michael is buried in Grandlawn Cemetery in Detroit, Michigan.  

A friend from the 281^st AHC, Ken McNeil, wrote that “Mike Gallagher was a good soldier.  He died trying to save a friend who was missing in the Ashau Valley.  That friend knew Mike had been trying to save him and was later retrieved alive and well.  Michael Gallagher was a kind and gentle man.  He had many friends and we all missed him when he died.”

Michael is remembered by his Rossiter cousins and a niece, Sheila Mann, who furnished the photo of him which she received from Michael’s daughter, Theresa.  Sheila stated that her father was a good friend of Michael’s and had fond memories of him.  His cousin, Sharon, said that “We loved Mike and looked up to him” and that he loved to eat raw potatoes dipped in vinegar.  His cousins have many fond memories of him.  Sharon also stated that he was very good to help people and was a good person.  He is still missed by them all.  .  Sharon relates several stories about Michael, one being that he had spent some time in a military school and when he came to live at their house, he didn’t like the way they made their beds and taught them the proper way---Sharon has continued to do it his way since then.  He was the official “bed maker” in their home. 

Michael’s awards include the Purple Heart, the Air Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Cross of Gallantry, the Vietnam Service Medal, and the aviation mechanics wings.  Michael’s father died in 1988.   He died at the age of 24 years, 3 months, and 9 days.  He is lovingly remembered by his cousins and those who knew him.