This Military Service Page was created/owned by
SP4 Robert Craft
to remember
Echanis, Michael D, SP 4 USA(Ret).
If you knew or served with this Soldier and have additional information or photos to support this Page, please leave a message for the Page Administrator(s) HERE.
Contact Info
Home Town Ontario, Oregon
Date of Passing Sep 08, 1978
Location of Interment Sunset Cemetery - Ontario, Oregon
Mike was only with C/75/RGR for about 6 weeks and was doing well on a team when a convoy his 5 man Ranger Team was on came under attack on May 6, 1970 while traveling to their main base camp in Pleiku, SVN. He fought like the warrior he was and killed several of the enemy which helped stop the enemy from advancing and he was wounded in the foot, legs, and head and sent to Japan for a month and and then was moved to Letterman Hospital, San Francisco, CA. until Dec 18, 1970 when he was medically retired.
He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for Valor and the Purple Heart. He went into a vigorous re hab to regain the use of his foot. Mike later became famous as a Martial Artist and worked with the Special Forces and SEALS and eventually winded up working in Nicaragua working for President Somoza.
On Sep 8, 1978 Mike along with two other men from the US and General Alegrett were in the Generals aircraft when it crashed while flying over the Sapoa River near the Nicaragua/Costa Rican border and all of them were killed. There is still a lot of speculation regarding the plane crash and some say it was rigged with a bomb and others say it was due to a grenade exploding in the cabin since they were carrying grenades in glass bottles. It was never proven or reported one way or the other. Mike was a Major at the time. He died doing what he loved which was living the life of a warrior....and he was a hell of a WARRIOR. "HE WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN." RIP WARRIOR.
RLTW
1SG Joey B Welsh USA-Ret
E/20/LRP & C/75/RGR IFFV
Unit ADMIN # 003
