Welcome to the Life and Times of SFC Michael G. Stahl, U.S. Army (Ret.) United States Army Special Forces MORE FUN THAN FEAR I was born to be a soldier ◊  I am a soldier ◊ I will die a soldier

I am SFC Michael G. Stahl, U.S. Army (Ret.). As a high school dropout, I enlisted on 22 Nov. 1962, at the age of 17, in response to the Cuban Missile Crisis. I lived  near an Air Force SAC (Strategic Air Command) base in central Florida, so if the balloon did go up . . .


While in the Army, I was trained as a parachute rigger. I learned to speak both Arabic and German fluently. I was accepted into special forces (Green Beret) training and earned my beret as an operations and intelligence sergeant. I “volunteered” for service in Vietnam three (3) times. I served two (2) tours. I was awarded several “baubles” and was medically retired due to combat wounds received on 8 Aug. ‘70.


I have recently donated all my military memorabilia to The Heritage Arsenal - Military Museum Consultants: Honoring and Preserving the Legacy of Military Service - who have turned it into an exhibit honoring the work of USA Special Forces in Vietnam. They have produced one video for there YouTube channel about my items - and me. It can be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-mAOjohjNc


They have also posted the first three of a series of planned interviews with me about my experiences in Vietnam.


The battle of Hau Duc and award of the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L37S_CeiPbc


The Tet Offensive. Parts 1 and 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhAkcJm1zf0&t=15s AND https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NWJhZBCRxU&t=30s


Aug. ‘69 to Aug. ‘70: I requested reassignment to Vietnam after my German language training. When I arrived at Nha Trang, I requested assignment to CCN (Command and Control, North), an ultra top secret unit of MACVSOG (Military Advisory Command - Vietnam - Studies and Observation Group), where I requested to be assigned to the recon company. Instead, I was given the job of the S-2 (Intelligence) Sgt. On MLT-2 (Mobile Launch Team - 2) at Quang Tri. Then I was reassigned to the TOC (Tactical Operations Center) as an intelligence Sgt.


I finished my tour in the recon company, as I had first requested. I became the One-Zero (1-0) (i.e., team leader) of RT Michigan. I was WIA on 8 Aug. ‘70, approximately two (2) weeks before I was scheduled to return home. As a result of this tour I was awarded a second Silver Star, a second Bronze Star, a Purple Heart and an Air Medal. Learn more >>>     Related links: Ballads | Decorations | War Stories


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