MSG (R) Mike Gibson

MSG (R) Mike Gibson sat down with me for Heroes I Know. Jumpmaster buddy from the 82nd Airborne — same generation Stout called the days when men were men and sheep were scared.

Born April 1964. Married January 2, 1985. Three kids. Grandkids now. Did his time in division, went to the Gulf, then passed on an 18-month unaccompanied Korea DMZ levy because he’d already been gone over a year. Still married. Looking back, he says that was the right call.

Got out. Five years CMPD in Charlotte. Ran his own business until the economy cratered. Went back through B-school for policing again — then an E6 in an 82nd T-shirt pulled him into a hallway on career day. By 1700 he was closing the business. Next day he was back in uniform. Guard. MP. Chased jump status and the star. Jumpmaster school — three seconds left on the clock and the grader called him a goat. Honduras. Panama. Still rolls past the old Bragg parking lot and sits there like he owns it.

Retired June of last year. Senior parachutist. Combat jump. A hero that I know.

That is why we hit record. Get the story on tape before we are too old or too sick to tell it.