Michael J Estocin
Michael was born on the 27th of April, 1931, in Turtle Creek, Pennsylvania, and after high school, he attended Slippery Rock State Teachers College. After graduating, he entered the Naval Aviation Cadet program and he received his commission in September of 1955. When Michael deployed to the Gulf of Tonkin in support of the Vietnam War, he was a Lieutenant Commander piloting an A-4 Skyhawk as part of Attack Squadron 192. It was his actions on the 26th of April, 1967, that would earn him the Medal of Honor. The citation reads:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty on 20 and 26 April 1967 as a pilot in Attack Squadron 192, embarked in U.S.S. Ticonderoga (CVA-14). Leading a three-plane group of aircraft in support of a coordinated strike against two thermal powerplants in Haiphong, North Vietnam, on 20 April 1967, Capt. Estocin provided continuous warnings to the strike group leaders of the surface-to-air missile (SAM) threats, and personally neutralized three SAM sites. Although his aircraft was severely damaged by an exploding missile, he reentered the target area and relentlessly prosecuted a SHRIKE attack in the face of intense antiaircraft fire. With less than five minutes of fuel remaining he departed the target area and commenced in-flight refueling which continued for over 100 miles. Three miles aft of the Ticonderoga, and without enough fuel for a second approach, he disengaged from the tanker and executed a precise approach to a fiery arrested landing. On 26 April 1967, in support of a coordinated strike against the vital fuel facilities in Haiphong, he led an attack on a threatening SAM site, during which his aircraft was seriously damaged by an exploding SAM, nevertheless, he regained control of his burning aircraft and courageously launched his SHRIKE missiles before departing the area. By his inspiring courage and unswerving devotion to duty in the face of grave personal danger, Capt. Estocin upheld the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.
When Michael’s aircraft went into a 30º dive, his wingman, John Nichols, began calling for a rescue helicopter and trying to contact Michael. He flew close enough to be able to see him in the cockpit, until they reached 600 feet. John leveled off and watched as Michael’s A-4 fired its remaining shrike missiles and crashed into the ground, with no sign of a parachute. Radio Hanoi had broadcasted that Michael had been captured and was now a prisoner, to which the Navy changed his status from Killed in Action to Prisoner of War. His family continued to write and send packages to Hanoi and in 1972, Michael’s sister had a package returned to her with no items in the package missing. It was, however, opened and seven new items had been added to it: two hand sewn “M” shaped felt booties with three hearts and two scraps of felt. It is believed that this was a sign from Michael that he was alive and was referencing him, his wife (Maria), and their three children.
The Navy was unable to determine how this happened and when 591 prisoners were released in 1973, Michael was not one of them. Other POWs reported hearing of his name in several camps but Hanoi denied any knowledge of him, making him one of nearly 2,500 Americans that are still missing from the Vietnam War. His Medal of Honor was issued on the 27th of February, 1978, to his family in the Pentagon by the Secretary of the Navy. In 1993, it was determined that Michael had in fact died during the crash of his plane, one day before his 36th birthday. Michael John Estocin was never recovered, but a memorial marker for him is located in the Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego, California: Section MA, Site 112. His name also appears on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial: Panel 18E, Line 92.
