More detail on this person: Michael Daniel
Medeiros from Ralph, AL age 59 born 6/05/1946
died 12/09/2005 in Tuscaloosa, AL from an
accident. This information was last updated 05/18/2016
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Date posted on this site:
03/10/2024
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Mike was born in Fall River, Mass. to Jeanne and
Leo Medeiros. His younger sister was Phyllis.
Home was a neighborhood in Portsmouth RI. called
Common Fence Point. Upon graduation from
Warren High School in 1964, he enlisted in the
Army. Basic training and AIT was at Ft. Dicks,
NJ. Then attended Jump School was at Ft.
Campbell, Kentucky. He then went to Officer
Candiate School at Ft. Gordon, Ga. and graduated
from OCS in 1966 and was married. Three
months later he started his first tour of duty in
Plei Khu, Vietnam as a 2nd Leiutenant assigned to
the 167th Signal Corps. He was befriended by a
group of Laotian Montagnyards that had a
reputation for being fierce fighters. He was given
a protective bracelet which guaranteed safe
passage throughout southeast Asia.
After 12 months in Vietnam, he returned to the US
with intentions to become an aviator. Denied for
not meeting the required height, Mike convinced
the Surgeon General's office to measure him with
boots on. After stuffing his boots with the Sunday
paper, Mike was able to pass physical height
requirements to attend rotary wing training. Mike
was then assigned to Ft. Wolters, TX. He
graduated flight school in 1968 then completed
Chinook transition in Savannah Ga.
Back to Vietnam at the end of 1968 for another 12
month tour. He flew CH 47 Chinooks and UH-1
Huey's transporting supplies and evacuating ground
troops.
During 1970, Mike attended Signal Corps Career
Course and AirTraffic Control School. Early 1971
he went to Schwaebisch Hall, Germany assigned to
the 14th Aviation Company.
1974 Jessica Lyn Medeiros was born, Stuttgart,
Germany
1974- Back to US, assigned to Ft. Rucker, AL
where he was responsible for the operation of
several air traffic control facilities.
1976- Michele Denice Medeiros was born, Ft
Rucker, AL.
1977 - Bachelor of Applied Science, Troy State
University
1978- Honorable discharge as a Captain from Army
during Reduction in Force.
1978 - Started and worked with his best friend,
Danny (Ozark Amphibian Center) which raised
African tree frogs for medical research.
1979- Started MJ s restaurant/lounge
1980- Moved to Rhode Island, worked as a
machinist for Newport Shipyard.
1981 - Moved to New Jersey, worked for Phoenix
Aviation flying Enstrom F-28C helicopters in
Atlantic City.
1982 - Moved to Chambersberg, Pa., flew for
Evergreen Helicopters as a crop duster.
1984 - Completed Ground School & Flight
Instruction, MBB Helicopter Corp., to fly twin jet
(BO-105)
1984 - Moved to Worcester, Ma., Flew the Life
Flight Helicopter, U-Mass Medical Center.
1986 - Moved to Edgartown, Martha's Vineyard,
Ma.- Managed Katama Airpark, the largest
remaining grass airfield in the US.
1987 - Attained Airport Managers License, Katama
Airfield
1987 - Mike and Nikki married at the approach end
of runway 21 Katama Airfield
1988 - Mike and Nikki Incorporated Edgartown Air,
part 135 air carrier. Owned Bell Jet Ranger
Helicopter, Varga Katrina and a Cherokee Six.
1990 - Edgartown Air and Cape Air merged
together.
1998 - Moved to New Hope, Pa., Worked for Bob
Gerenser as a Captain of a small tour boat on the
Delaware River. Attained Coast Guard Captain's
License. Also started a small landscape company.
(New Hope Equipment.)
2001- Moved to Tuscaloosa Alabama. Incorporated
Tuskaloosa Riverboat Co., (Bama Belle Riverboat)
Became a grandfather to Zachary James Sizemore.
2003 - Awarded Advanced Storm Spotter Training
Certificate.
Hobbies & Interests: Radio controlled airplanes,
Ham radios, Morse Code, Model railroading, model
submersibles, storm spotter.
Awards: 1965 Completion Airborne Course, Ft.
Benning, Ga., 1968 Completion US Army Aviation
School, 1969 First Air Medal Award, 1970 Second
Air Medal Award, 1971 Signal Officer Advanced
Course Diploma, 1976 Army Commendation Medal,
Purple Hearts (3) , 1970 Bronze Star.
Survivors: Nikki Medeiros (wife) Ralph, AL;
Jessica M. Garrison (daughter), Tuscaloosa, AL;
Michele Sizemore (daughter), Tuscaloosa, AL; and
Jean Brunetti (loving mother), Portsmouth, RI.
From: Phyllis Cahoon