Parade Countdown

Captain Gary Michael “Mike” Rose - Gary Michael Rose was born in Watertown, New York on 17 Oct 1947 and was raised in Los Angeles, California. He graduated from James Monroe High School in 1965 and on 4 Apr 1967, he enlisted in the U.S. Army. He graduated as a special forces medic from the U.S. Army Airborne School and later joined the 5th Special Forces Group for duty in Vietnam.  Between 11 and 14 Sep 1970, Rose’s unit conducted Operation Tailwind deep in enemy territory in Laos.

The fighting started before their helicopters landed and continued for 96 hours when they were extracted. During the intense fighting, Sergeant Rose was credited with saving the lives of some sixty soldiers while being shot at and becoming wounded on numerous occasions. On the last day and under heavy assaults, Rose moved the wounded and casualties to the extraction point and then to the helicopters. He and the remaining team boarded the last helicopter which crashed shortly after takeoff, further injuring Rose and the other personnel. Rose carried the injured and unconscious out of the smoldering aircraft and treated their injuries until they were again extracted and returned safely to camp. When the operation was declassified in 1998, an opportunity was opened to upgrade Rose’s Distinguished Service Cross for his heroic actions to the Medal of Honor. President Trump presented the award at a ceremony at the White House on 23 Oct 2017.

In addition to the Medal of Honor, Rose’s military awards include the Distinguished Service Cross, the Bronze Star Medal with one oak leaf cluster and “V” device, the Purple Heart with two oak leaf clusters, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the Good Conduct Medal with two knots, National Defense Medal, Vietnam Campaign with star, Presidential Unit Citation (MAC SOG), Vietnam Civic Action Honor Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry Unit Citation – with Palm Combat Medical Badge, Special Forces Tab, U.S. Army Parachute Badge, Thai Army Parachute Badge, Vietnam Parachute Badge, and several service ribbons.