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Gators and Kangaroo Express to honor Army Sgt. Jason Mike at Saturday's game
Thursday, November 17, 2011 | Football, Scott Carter
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Just four days after the terrorist attacks on 9/11, Jason Mike stood on a football field at Jacksonville University.
The Dolphins were getting ready to face Morehead State in one of only a handful of college football games not canceled that day as America mourned. A freshman fullback, Mike was overcome by the moment as the National Anthem was played.
He soon made a decision that has significantly altered his life's path in the decade since. Mike decided to quit college and enroll in the Army in the spring semester of his freshman year. He grew up an Army brat as the son of Larry Mike, whose 20-year military career took the family all across the country during Jason's youth.
Ten years after that epiphany, Mike will be back on a football field Saturday during the Gators-Furman game when he is honored as part of the University of Florida's “Saluting Those Who Serve” campaign, sponsored by Kangaroo Express. Mike has been in Gainesville for several days as part of Military Appreciation Week, appearing at various Kangaroo Expresses to share his story and record video tributes to be played for U.S. military personnel.
The story of how Mike earned the Silver Star Medal is one of bravery and courage few experience.
Sgt. Mike was on patrol with his 617th Military Police Company in eastern Baghdad in 2005 when more than 30 Iraqi insurgents surrounded his vehicle in a small convoy of U.S. soldiers.
“It was a pretty complex ambush that the enemy put on,'' Mike said Thursday. “When we actually rolled into it, we thought we were flanking the enemy, but in turn we actually went right into the middle of them.''
Soon, enemy fire was coming from all angles. Mike, in a vehicle with three others, was the only one not hit. Trained as a combat medic, Mike tried to assist his injured comrades and fight off the insurgents at the same time.
The battle lasted about 45 minutes until help arrived. Mike said the insurgents were using various weapons, including rocket-propelled grenades and small-arms fire. They also had a sniper set up until Mike took him out with an anti-tank rocket.
The battle resulted in the largest insurgent death total since the Battle of Fallujah early in the Iraq War. Mike was awarded a Silver Star, the nation's third-highest medal for valor, and is now serving with the 20th Special Forces Group in pursuit of becoming a Green Beret.
“I ended up killing 26 enemy insurgents, wounding six and capturing one,'' Mike said. “I got all three of my guys out of the battle zone alive. They all made 100 percent full recoveries and are doing well today.''
To learn more about Sgt. Mike, click here for a profile on AmericasArmy.com.
Compared to his experiences in Iraq, appearing at The Swamp on Saturday will be like a trip to Disney World. Actually, considering Mike's background, it will be better.
“I'm a really, really big Gators fan. My family all originated from Jacksonville,'' said Mike, who now makes his home in Lexington, near the University of Kentucky campus. “I'm so afraid my truck is going to get vandalized because I have so much Florida stuff on it. Growing up, being a University of Florida Gators fan, to be a part of this is absolutely a dream come true.
“When I'm deployed overseas, I always carry my blue and orange with me. I have a huge Gators flag that comes with me on every deployment that I fly. I couldn't be happier.''
Mike said he hasn't been to a football game at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in many years but does remember going to one when his family lived in Jacksonville during his childhood.
Once upon a time, Mike dreamed of scoring touchdowns. However, the decision to stop playing football and enter the military is one that he hasn't second-guessed for a second.
“I come from a military background. The military has been a part of me pretty much my whole life,'' he said. “After seeing [9/11], it just really pulled at me to do something bigger than what I wanted to do. I decided to join the military and serve my country, especially at a time of need. It was something I felt an obligation to do.''
And for that, he will be back on a football field Saturday.
