Guestbook

Thank you for visiting Michaels's Memorial website .

We would appreciate it if you would add your thoughts to the Guest Book that we are keeping in remembrance of Michael and his 18 fallen comrades by e-mailing them to: family@michaelheiser.com. Please include your city and state in your e-mail.

NOTE: We are sorry for the inconvenience, but because of recent entries of a commercial nature to the Guest Book, all entries to the Guest Book must be e-mailed. Your e-mail will be reviewed before being added to the Guest Book. This process usually takes 24 hours. Please check back soon to see if your entry is posted.

Thank you, the family of Michael Heiser!

Guest Book Entries:

Dear Fran and Gary,
I hope you enjoyed your holiday, My Aunt and Uncle, John and Virginia Dzirko, came to visit me up in DC from Florida and we were talking about all sorts of topics and then my Aunt mentioned that she new you guys, the Heiser's. Immediately the name was so familiar... but I could not put it together. My Aunt Virginia said yes, Mike was stationed at Patrick AFB in FL the same time you were there.

As I did not know Mike or even meet him I do know who he replaced at the 71st Rescue Sqd, I know he returned from Germany and took over MSgt Herb Joiner's job as a Radio Operator or Radio Communications guy. I was at Patrick AFB and was sad to hear of the tragic event and the loss of all the guys, but you always focus on the immediate connection to the folks at your base, and the 5 guys we lost were all from the 71st.

I was on staff at the 45th Space Wing, and the 71st was a tenant to us, I had a close association with the 71st because my best friend Herb was part of the 71st. I am a Chaplain Assistant and assisted with the memorial service that was held in the theater, I am not sure if you came to Patrick at that time, our offices were used to host the families of the fallen to meet with then President Bill Clinton.

I just wanted to drop a note and express my gratitude for his service to our country.
I hope to meet you one day.

As an Army brat and war orphan I wish to express my deepest sympathy to Michael's family and friends. Michaels don't happen by accident...they are created by the family and loved one's around them

I remember KK as little Kenny, my skinny blond cousin in Yukon, Oklahoma. I called him Kenny then. I remember running with his brother Steve almost 50 years ago in his dad’s front yard pretending to be soldiers in World War II Germany. His dad and my dad were brothers. They were both Naval aviators in that war. Kenny and I both grew up in the USAF. My war was Viet Nam. My dad never forgave himself for encouraging Kenny to make a career in the Air Force. He felt he was somehow responsible for Kenny being in the Towers that day. Kenny’s dad never forgave Bill Clinton for sending Kenny to an assignment with physical security so compromised by international political concessions. In fact, I believe he told him so in person. If I ever meet Bill, I’ll tell him that I’m very, very proud of Kenny and his eighteen heroic friends. They gave their lives so we can live ours in freedom. God bless them.

Hello, my name is Marty Martin (Birdman) and I know Mike from Ellsworth AFB, SD, he flew with me on the WABNCP at the 4th ACCS. Well, where do I start. I have only recently discovered Mike had in fact been killed in the Khobar bombing. Please excuse the fact if I refer to Mike in the present tense as to myself I still consider him here. I only slightly remember this atrocity because at around this time I lost my father unexpectedly on the 13th of June, 1996. For the next year or so my life was blurred and remember virtually nothing about this time. I was devastated to say the least. I kind of lost touch with people when I left the 4th, and was transferred down to the 8th SOS down in Hurlburt Field 9 in Fort Walton Beach, FL, while still a CSO, it was only mainly with radios and voice communications with various other agencies and organizations in an unconventional warfare environment. I'm sorry if I use a lot of acronyms, sometimes I forget a lot of people don't know what the hell I am talking about, so if you would like to know about something specific, let me know and I will try to explain it better. I understand that you Mr. Heiser are retired, congratulations. I too retired, only at 15 years, back in 1991. Even back then the military had started changing, the mindset of lots of younger men and women, and not for the better I may add. So I decided to retire early when they started to implement an early retirement system

Please excuse the length of this letter, I feel it may turn into a novella, because the feelings for the loss of a friendship, camaraderie, are too strong to deny myself to ignore. So if I ramble on a bit please forgive me. I really like Mike's website. I recently ran across a website for old SAC aircrew members and found a lot of guys that I flew with and started emailing them to catch up on old times. The link is http://members.aol.com/sacacca1/guestbook.html if you want to read some entries about our Unit and there are some mentions about Mike too. That is when I found out about Mike. I am very sad to hear about his passing. We were really good friends and spent a very large amount of time together. As part of a SAC aircrew, we were hard crewed together, along with Lars Helland, Greg Plueger, Jerry Casavan, Mike Cadola, Amy Pope, Ed Nixon. There were others, but mainly we spent most of our days with these people. Back then, every three weeks we went on Alert together with our flight crew. Alert is when the Aircrew stays secluded for seven days long with the possibility of being called to fly off to possible war in an instants notice. In between Alert, we also flew a couple times a week. In the beginning I started out being Mike's trainer, and then eventually went to Stanboard where Mike followed also . I have many, many wonderful memories of him. Some of them are work related and some are personally related. Mike is my running partner, my wingman, my drinking partner. Sorry but some of our memories cannot be repeated in mixed company! Suffice to say that me, Mike, and Lars were not shy about celebrating our freedom from Alert by going to the Tip Tap Room or the Boothill Saloon. Sometimes, me and Mike would even go over to Lars' house to party after Alert because he was the only one married and had a house off base. Lars was not too pleased to see us sometimes as we interrupted him and his wife sharing some quality time alone!!!

My earliest memory of Mike occurred even before he got there. We found out he was inbound to the Unit, got his name and such and also the fact that he had voluntarily quit the Academy. Lars and me figured either this guy was really smart to see how things are in his life and purposely left or he was just floundering around and not too committed to the military life. So Mike got here and we found out which was the case and we took him under our wing. Mike learned very quickly and was a pleasure to work with while I was there.

Sorry, had to stop writing for awhile, it was getting too emotional for me to continue.

Anyway, the attached photographs are for you to see Mike again in a different, happier, enjoyable time. Unfortunately these are the only photos I have left as I had a very large house fire back in 1997 and lost almost everything I owned. The two photos of us in our flight suits are when we were on Alert one week. I'm sorry but I don't remember the exact week or year and there aren't any dates on the back. The first one is of me and Mike. The other one is of me holding a baby with Mike behind me. The last one is of me, Amy Pope and Mike at her New Year's Eve party. Amy was one of the very first women aircrew members to fly with the 4th ACCS, and was a radio operator. She also happened to be my girlfriend at the time this photo was taken, but now have lost touch with her. I read about the fact that Mike had a fiancé, if you are still in contact with her you are more than welcome to send her this email and photos. You also have permission to use the photos as any way you see fit. I am glad that Mike had found someone to love and that loved him. When we were flying together we didn't have too much time for fooling around with Love and all that :):):) We were flyboys and saving the world from communism and so on, and so on...

I want to send this to you right away so I will sign off for now. Again, I am very sad about your loss and the personal loss of someone that I knew and worked with in very tense, trying times. This is my name and email address for future communications. Please feel free to write or call anytime, I would love to hear from you and your family. Also below is Lars email address, I don't know if you have this information or not.

My husband (Mark) and I had the pleasure of being stationed with Mike in Germany. Of course it was Mark and Mike that forged a deep friendship during their many travels together whilst I kept my feet on the ground. Since we live in Maryland, we visit Mike and another friend that was stationed with us in Germany - Cheryl Turnage several times throughout the year. In fact we visited Mike (and Cheryl) yesterday, July 4th. We thanked them for their service to our country and that they are truly missed.

It's hard to believe that it's been 10 years. They say time will heal the pain - which may be true. We keep them alive in our hearts and in the stories we tell.

I am a survivor of the Khobar Towers bombing, and I want to thank you for this. I now live in Angleton Texas which is where Dee Campbell (one of the 19) was from, and is buried across from my home. I go to his grave regularly in honor and memory of the nineteen who died that night. Every year June 25th comes and goes for others, while people like myself and family members of those we lost, do our part to honor them. I get so upset that others do not remember a day that WE will NEVER forget, a day that I think of EVERY DAY of MY life. Thank you again for this, and I only hope that when AIC Woody and the others crossed my path (I worked patrol and gates daily), that I waved them through with a smile, and made each day they were there, a little brighter.

I was stationed with Mike at Ellsworth AFB back in the mid 80's. I last saw him in 1995 at Eglin AFB not long after I retired. This past Sunday, the 25th, I visited Arlington and saw his gravesite. It was nice to see that someone else had been there earlier in the day and placed a flower and flag at his and B. McVeigh markers. There is some comfort to me knowing that he is in the best of company. I considered Mike to be a very good friend of mine and truly miss him as I know you do also.

Wonderful man. What a wonderful and kind gift to all Americans to keep your loved one in our memory. It is unfortunate that we all could not meet this fine American before his untimely death. But you have kept his memory in trust for us all by sharing your touching website.

My deepest sympathy for the tragic loss of your son, and the 18 others whose lives were also taken by this tragedy.

Today is a time that is scarey for us all, we just have to turn on the news to see the devastation the terrorists are causing. Yet it is people like Michael, and all those that fight for our countries and to bring peace, that we can be truely thankful for. The men and women who dedicate their lives to such, and the familes and friends who love and support them, we should all be proud of. My heart goes out to you all.

Find hope, and peace, in knowing that Michael, I am sure, is watching over you both today, and every day, and feeling proud to have had such a wonderful family. As you both I can see are very proud for having such a wonderful son.

You are both amazing people, and I believe after reading all I have, that the world is a better place for having Michael a part of it.

Your site is special!
Thank you for your work
Samuel Morris <sm1968@yahoo.com>
Raleigh, NC USA - Friday, June 10, 2005 at 08:01:45 (PDT)

Our thoughts go out to your family. We have a young friend in Iraq, serving our country & we are very humbled by all those who have sacrificed for our freedoms. May God bless your family. This is a wonderful tribute to your son.

Very touching & heartfelt situation. Thanks for giving me the link Fran,
Dave
Dave <ultra800_96@hotmail.com>
IA USA - Saturday, March 19, 2005 at 14:53:38 (PST)

What a wonderful thing you are doing. I read your letter to mother and decided to check out the web and found this wonderful memorial to your son. Keep up the good work. Our son Kevin is in the Army and presently stationed at Fort Mammouth
Sherry (Heiser) Smith <smithanns@sbcglobal.net>
Michigan City, IN USA - Friday, March 18, 2005 at 19:19:49 (PST)

I didn't know Mike but I know his mom. Because of that, I know what a fantastic man was lost that day. You should be proud and honored to have had such a wonderful son. This webpage is a beautiful tribute to a beautiful soul. God Bless, Michael and all the Heiser family. May perserverance win!

I served in the 71st RQS from 92-96. I spent over two thirds of my time TDY to Dhahran as the 4411th RQS Operations Officer. I knew each and every one of the Patrick airmen killed like family. I will never forget them, nor their sacrifice. I pray for the day we find and serve justice to this responsible for their murders. I will spit on these cowards graves.
Brice Robinson (Crown 15)
Lt Col Brice Robinson <bricerobinson@gimail.af.mil>
Memphis, TN USA - Wednesday, February 23, 2005 at 18:35:00 (PST)

Dear Fran & Gary,
My deepest sympathy for the loss of your son Michael on June 25, 1996. Many unbelievable terrible incidents are occurring in the world and we are simply speechless and do not know how to cope with it. God bless his soul and the other heroes who died with him.
Lina Demirjian <vertibelle@vertibelle.com>
Toronto, Ontario Canada - Monday, June 21, 2004 at 22:27:52 (PDT)

Fran: The web site is a wonderful tribute to your son, Michael, and his fallen comrades. I wish you success in your fight for justice. I know that it is a long, painful and exhausting journey.
Georgia Bergmann < >
CO USA - Tuesday, June 08, 2004 at 15:41:50 (PDT)

We have so many memories that will last forever, those of Mike and both of you, Fran and Gary
Jackie and George Bushey <jmb4404@juno.com>
Palm Coast, FL USA - Tuesday, June 08, 2004 at 15:26:51 (PDT)

I only remember Mike as such a young boy. It was different to see him so grown up. I'm not surprised at the type of person he became as he had such fine examples in his parents and family. Not ever having children, it is difficult to imagine your sense of loss- probably more a sense of frustration at the senselessness of what happened. I don't even pretend to understand a faith in a "god" that would encourage people to destroy others, and call it 'good'. My prayers are with you. Love- Jane
Jane Cunningham <jane1234@bellsouth.net >

Denise M. Eichstaedt <eafbfl@aol.com>
New Smyrna Beach, Fl USA - Thursday, November 27, 2003 at 11:39:54 (PST)

Michael G. Heiser's Memorial

Guest Book

Guest Book Entries: