Once Shot 27 times in Iraq. America lost a hero yesterday.
 

Not my words below. But, I met this American hero. He was a legend.
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Navy Seal Mike Day, took his life yesterday. Mike meant a lot to everyone and he deserved so much better than this ending. What he had overcome was monumental.

Mike was shot 27 times while on active duty in Iraq.

If you don’t know who Mike is he is a NAVY SEAL who on April 6, 2007, in Iraq’s Anbar Province he, his team of Navy SEALs, and a group of Iraqi scouts were on the hunt for a high-level al Qaeda cell that were targeting US troops and women & children. Mike was the first to enter a room where 4 terrorist leaders were waiting in ambush. When the gunfight was over, he took out all four terrorists, but not before being shot 27 times and hit with grenade shrapnel. By only a miracle and saving grace, Mike cleared the house and rescued 6 women and children before walking out ON HIS OWN to an awaiting helicopter which flew him to safety, he said “I wasn’t being macho, but I was afraid if they picked me up, it would just hurt more.” He details his story in his book Perfectly Wounded and there were plans to make a movie about this incredible HERO!

Mike spent his life giving back. He worked at the U.S. Special Operations Command Warrior Care Program – also called the Care Coalition, helping service members. He is a TRUE LEGEND and HERO by ALL accounts! He is pictured here with his Faithful K9 Herja…

Rest in Paradise Mike!

PLEASE check in with your friends, family and any veterans you know to see if they are ok and need support in any way. Sometimes it feels too much to reach out and ask for help. Suicide prevention hotline dial
#988 or 1-800-273-TALK
We ALL need to be there for one another.

RIP. Godspeed.

RIP 27 times i think after the fifth or six times he got shot he's was like ok you had your shot my ****ing turn.

R.i.p. soldier gone but never forgotten

I have always been in awe and hold in such high esteem any and all service men and women who put their life on the line to defend our country.

It may not have started out that way for them but it is the ultimate sacrifice.

I could NEVER do it.

God Speed to another fallen hero.

Semper Fi my Navy brother you can truly rest now.

Agreed. RIP to a true hero.

Damn. RIP.

Maybe, some ****ing day, we'll figure out the VA needs more and better psychological treatments.

While there is plenty more work to do at the VA that's not really the issue in this case. Mike had a huge support system and access to all kinds of help through various foundations and he was actually helping other veterans.

He just lost the battle unfortunately. RIP.

Right on.

That’s truly unfortunate

With the amount of money we spend on the military we should have world class health care for our vets and they shouldn't have to pay a dime either. Quit paying ****ing contractors and put that money towards more pay and better health benefits.

I got to know many "Mikes" in the early 2000's. The military would give these heroes assignments to the CENTCOM/SOCOM bases. These were what was known as cushy assignments to the soldiers as they got back on their feet physically and mentally. But still helping the war fighting.

I worked with 3 of these heroes during the day, side by side and everything seemed normal. They killed themselves that night. They had all kinds of different help that was there just for them. Toughest dudes I've ever known. The demons inside themselves caused by the war was just too much to carry.

I have no idea how to save them. But, we need to find that way. We are losing some of the best men and women this nation ever produced. There has to be a way to save more of them. We owe them to try harder.

Survivor's guilt is a big factor in this. It's extremely difficult to lose friends who have had your back.

RIP Hero...gone but never forgotten...

God Speed Warrior.
God Bless all our Vets and their families

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Thank you for your service, Mike. I'm not worthy. RIP

Last year at the Owl Creek Jamboree, a bluegrass festival in Humboldt Kansas, I met a hobo who goes by the name Coffee, yes like the beverage. Seriously, a true train hopping, living off the land and generosity of others hobo. He's also a 13 year Marine Infantry vet with two Afghanistan tours to under his belt. He never told me his rank but with that many years and two combat tours I'm assuming he's at least a sergeant, more likely a staff sergeant.
He said he was on patrol in a Humvee with three 19 year old's straight out of Boot when they came across a T intersection. He got on the com with LT and was directed to turn left. They made the turn and the next thing he knows he's waking up in a hospital in Berlin. IED, he was the only survivor. He was medically discharged shortly afterwards.
I saw him again at the Winfield Walnut Festival, still a nut bar and still self medicating his PTSD with booze and illicit drugs. Said he had hiked the Appalachian Trail, or as much of it as he could before hopping a train back to Winfield for the bluegrass fest.
I'm hoping to see him again at this years Owl Creek because the last time I saw him he wasn't doing too good emotionally, still struggling with his PTSD and survivors remorse.
Anyway, point is we loose far too many veterans every day to suicide especially when all it takes is someone willing to listen.

Sad stuff for sure. It’s not just the wars that ruin these peoples minds, though. I had a roommate that went through boot camp and was obviously damaged by whatever they put him through there. Was a very laid back free thinker before he went in and as soon as he got back you could see an instant change in his personality. It was very scary seeing how much they broke him down and reshaped his mind in such a short time. I understand they have to make killing machines, but it’s sad what they do to our soldiers mental health in the process. Add to that what they go through in an actual war and I can’t even begin to imagine how we can begin to fix the PTSD issues they go through. I have so much respect for anyone that sacrifices their mental well being to serve and protect us. I hope we can someday find a way to help them all cope with what they’ve been put through because of it.