Echanis, Michael D, SP4

Deceased
 
 Photo In Uniform   Service Details
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Final Rank
Specialist 4
Last Service Branch
Infantry
Last MOS
11B20-Infantryman
Last MOS Group
Infantry
Primary Unit
1970-1970, 11B20, C Company, 75th Infantry (Ranger)
Service Years
1969 - 1970
Infantry
Specialist 4

 Last Photo   Personal Details 

15470 kb


Home State
Idaho
Idaho
Year of Birth
1950
 
This Military Service Page was created/owned by SP4 Robert Craft to remember Echanis, Michael D, SP 4 USA(Ret).

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Contact Info
Home Town
Ontario, Oregon
Date of Passing
Sep 08, 1978
 
Location of Interment
Sunset Cemetery - Ontario, Oregon

 Official Badges 

Infantry Shoulder Cord


 Unofficial Badges 




 Military Associations and Other Affiliations
Historical Soldiers
  1978, Historical Soldiers


 Photo Album   (More...


  IMO SP4 MICHAEL D ECHANIS : Sep 7, 2016  
   

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





 

   
Writer:
IN Welsh, Joey, 1SG -Deceased 
   
Last Updated:
Mar 12, 2017
   
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