Mike Laleman US Army Hero

"I wanna be an airborne Ranger

I wanna live a life of danger.."

 I can still hear those words we sang as the drill sergeant called marching cadence in basic training.  Many of the drill sergeants wore the Ranger tab on their shoulder, but I didn't know much about the Rangers.  I knew they were held in high regard by people in the US Army. The phrase I heard often was "Rangers are tough SOB's". One of my uncles told me that the Rangers had stormed the cliffs overlooking Omaha beach to knock out the German machine guns and artillery.

Mike Laleman  US Army Ranger  This photo was several years ago, and he has been promoted since then. The tan beret and shoulder tab identify a US Army Ranger.

Mike Laleman (who we all call Michael) has always been in the outdoors. When younger he would often go fishing and hunting. A conversation with young Michael would include details on fishing lures, colors, and types of fish they caught. He bought every kind of fishing lure and hunting equipment. I still have some 50# test line (who catches fish that big?) he gave me on one of my birthdays.

 In high school he was on the school shooting team. He was an excellent shot and they put him in charge of transporting the guns. 

                                                Michael's first deer

He fished with me a number of times in my boat. I don't recall either of us catching any fish, thus no pictures. Bad fishing has almost always been my fault.

                                           Mike and his niece Taylor

Michael is an American hero. He fits my definition perfectly. A hero is the person who steps forward to face a difficult challenge. It is not that he is without fear. That is part of what the feels he has to do. The difference is that the takes on the challenge in spite of the fear.

After graduation from high school Michael enlisted in the US Army. This was after 9-11-2001. Michael enlisted in an infantry unit and eventually passed the difficult Ranger School. Less than 50% of those who began the school passed it. This was the school all of the Special Forces complete. Part of that training was 2-3 week"Survival School". He was dumped in a swamp at night without food and told to survive.

Rangers were also airborne. He regularly jumped out of airplanes. Upon completion he was assigned to a Ranger regiment. This assignment required additional difficult qualification in order to actively serve as a Ranger. I think this was when he became known as  "Mike".

  

The strenuous training did not end on assignment. Being qualified and assigned meant he had a standard of physical fitness to maintain. In also included training in additional skills. Rangers serve in all of the most difficult situations. Their rigorous training puts them in the lead, the "point of the spear".  

The motto "Rangers lead the way" appropriately describes the designation Ranger. They learn how to operate in jungles, deserts, and urban areas in tight scary places. They travel by Humvee, helicopter, and even modified Toyota pickups. 

They may use donkeys and horses in mountainous conditions. Sometimes they parachute in. They use land, water, and air to conduct their operations.

Mike is an expert marksman and has trained as a sniper. For work in urban settings he trained as a locksmith.

The Rangers draw the most dangerous assignments, often at night. Deployment has never been in a place anyone would refer to as “safe”. Mike and his brother, Bryan, wear the Combat Infantry Badge. You must serve in combat to receive this medal.  Mike has been deployed more often than most people in the military. I lost count after 6 combat tours but know he had more.

                                                        

 He currently serves in a leadership role in the US Army. He works at SOCOM, where special operations are planned. His ability to plan, accomplish and to lead have been recognized repeatedly. When you can lead in combat, you can lead anywhere.

Mike continues to fish and hunt when he can. His fishing experiences have gotten diverse and he is landing much bigger fish. He has been part of a special hunt for service members.

Mike continues to be part of a sky dive demonstration team. He serves  along with Rangers, other Airborne troupes and Green Berets. 

He is recently married to Cheryl. He still serves in the US Army.

Mike and Cheryl

He training and his deployments have taken a toll on his body. Like any highly trained athlete, he must condition constantly. In order to be ready to go into action as a Ranger he must stay in top physical condition and endure extreme physical hardships in training. The deployments and training had subjected him to injury. Surgeries to repair damage have become part of his life.  He does not receive the income of a professional athlete. His compensation includes the respect and confidence of those who deploy with him. Like any athlete at some point he will not be able to serve in the field.

 I ask you to think about the difficulty he has endured in service for his country. I ask you to thank him because he deserves to know that we care about his sacrifice. I ask you to thank Cheryl for wishing to become part of this difficult service.  American heroes. 

American Hero

My definition of a hero is the person who steps forward to face a difficult challenge. It is not that they are without fear. That is part of what they feel they have to do. The difference is that they take on the challenge in spite of the fear. Unfortunately many who want to be leaders, are a long way from being heroes.

I have been fishing for a long time with my fellow retired principals. Our stories go way back. If you are regular reader, you know that our equipment, our health, and sometimes our lives, were in danger for mistakes we have made.

Even though Don and Paul continue to agree to fish with me, they are not the only ones who have. From the very first time I bought my boat and as far back as the 1980’s, I have fished with some guys who are true American heroes. While looking through some old photos I came upon a photo of one of my nephews, Bryan Laleman, when he was much younger, fishing at my brother Ron's lake.

Bryan  and his younger brother Mike (who we all still call Michael) are  members of the US Army. 

Bryan was in the National Guard on 9-11-2001. He had served in the US Army for three years including a tour in the Middle East. While beginning college, he enlisted in a National Guard infantry unit. His college career was interrupted as he was called upon to secure property that may have been subject to further terrorist attack. 

He re-enlisted in another infantry unit and was later deployed to combat in that unit. He told me he was proud all of the members of his squad returned unharmed. A parent of one of those members told me how much his men appreciated Bryan as a leader.

 Upon his return, Bryan enlisted in a National Guard helicopter unit. He trained to become a Blackhawk helicopter pilot and Warrant Officer.

I can’t give much in the way of details about his service. I don’t really know all of the specifics. Bryan's parents feel the military might disapprove if I shared much of what I do know. Suffice it to say, he and his brother have seen plenty of service is war zones. Deployment has never been in a place anyone would refer to as “safe”. Both wear the Combat Infantry Badge, the blue Kentucky long rifle. You do not get that sitting behind a desk, as I did when I was in the US Army.

                                                      

Military families bear the daily fear of family members deployed. Both of my nephews are married, and Bryan has children. The stress has to be overwhelming, because there is not much that can be done, but worry and pray for the day they return home.

                                                  

                                                     Bryan and Pam

Bryan and Wesley

Bryan Pam Clara Wesley

                                                    Bryan at his Dad's pond

With Covid-19, rotations have changed. Fewer are being trained to take their place. Deployments are getting longer. The work they do is not conducive to social distancing so the added health risk is real.  

Some of the photos that follow are dated, but they are what I have. Some were recently shared by their parents. Bryan has received multiple promotions since these were taken. His promotions were not for just staying in the service. He had to respond to many extremely difficult challenges to move up in rank.

Each deployment includes great risk.  He serves today in Iraq. He is a leader in the truest sense of the word. 

Pray for Bryan and Mike and their families if praying is what you do. Thank them, perhaps not for “their service” as so many do. Thank them for their courage, their sacrifice, the stress in their lives, the hardship that comes from stepping forward when most chose not to serve. Give their families a kind word, spend time listening, and recognize that without families like them, we won’t have people who can be heroes for all of us.

I hope we can fish again soon. A special Happy 40th Birthday, Bryan. Stay safe and return soon.