Michael J Estocin

MEDALS-RIBBONS: Air Medal (12), Navy Commendation w/Combat "V," Combat Action, Navy Unit Commendation, National Defense Service, Armed Forces Expeditionary, Vietnam Service w/3 Stars, Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation, Vietnam Campaign

Michael was lost in combat over North Vietnam on 26 April 1967. He was awarded posthumously the Medal of Honor. The USS Estocin FFG-15 was named in his honor.

On April 20. 1967, while leading a three-plane group of aircraft in support of a coordinated strike on two thermal power plants in Haiphong, North Vietnam; he provided continuous warnings to the strike group leaders of the surface-to-air missile (SAM) threats and personally neutralized three SAM sites. His aircraft was severely damaged by an exploding missile, but he reentered the target area and prosecuted a SHRIKE missile attack under intense antiaircraft fire. With less than five minutes of fuel remaining he departed the target area and commenced in-flight refueling until three miles aft of USS Ticonderoga.  Without enough fuel for a second approach, he executed a precise, fiery, arrested landing. On April 26^th, 1967, in support of a coordinated strike against the vital fuel facilities in Haiphong, he led an attack on a threatening SAM site and his aircraft was seriously damaged by an exploding SAM.  Despite the heavy damage he regained control of his burning aircraft and launched his SHRIKE missiles before departing the area. Due to the extensive damage done by the enemy missile strike, Estocin was unable to continue the flight and his plane crashed.  His body was never recovered.

1.  Cast. Michael J. Estocin was born on April 27, 1931 in Turtle Creek, PA.

2.  He graduated from State Teachers College in Slippery Rock, PA

3.  Mike entered Naval Service as an Aviation Cadet in June 1954.

4.  After he finished his jet training in Beeville, TX he was assigned to Attack Squadron Fifty-Six in March of 1956 at NAS Miramar, San Diego, CA

5.  In the summer of 1957 Mike invited Marie to dinner.  It was a blind date.  They were introduced via telephone by mutual friends.  He took her to the exclusive Marine Room in La Jolla, CA for dinner.

6.  They started dating and fell in love.  They were married on Aug. 16, 1958 in the chapel at NAS Miramar.  It was a military wedding.

7.  Their first daughter, Kathy was born on May 28, 1959 in the Balboa Hospital in San Diego.

8.  Mike was transferred to NAS Lemoore, in Lemoore, CA.  They purchased a home in Hanford, CA.  And that is where their second daughter, Jane was born on Feb. 5, 1962.

9.  In 1963 Mike was sent to Alameda, CA where he was assigned to the USS Ranger.  While they were there their third daughter, Suzie was born on Dec. 18, 1963.

10.  In June of 1965 Mike finished his time on the USS Ranger and he was sent back to NAS Lemoore.  He was assigned to Attack Squadron 125. Then in Dec. of 1965 he was assigned to Attack Squadron 192.

11.  Then in October of 1966 Mike and Marie drove to San Diego to visit friends.  He would be leaving on a cruise in a few days.  After visiting with friends they drove over to NAS North Island in Coronado.  Marie moved over to the drivers seat and kissed her husband, with tears streaming down her face.  She watched as Mike walked aboard the USS Ticonderoga. She did not know it then but it was the last time she was to see him.  Close to 7 months later the ship was ready to leave the line, but an air strike needed to be lead.  Mike volunteered.  He was shot down by and air missile.  The skipper of the base came to Marie's house to tell her husband was shot down.  and a few weeks later the government told her that a sensitive source saw him so he was listed as a Prisoner-of-War.  But later she and the family was told that he was never s prisoner.   Ten and half years later the government changed his status to KIA (killed in action)

Mike is still on the unaccounted list.

12.  After Capt. Estocin was declared KIA.  Marie and their three daughters flew to Washington D.C to accept, posthumously, the highest honor to be given to a milirary person...A Congressional Medal of Honor for Capt. Michael J. Estocin.  

13.  In Nov. of 1979 Marie and her daughters flew, as guest, of Bath Iron Works, in Bath, ME, to christian the USS Estocin FFG-15.

Then Marie and the girls were back in Bath, Maine on Jan 10, 1981 to see the USS Estocin FFG-15 commissioned a Naval vessel.

14.  The USS Estocin was decommissioned on April 3, 2003.  It was sold to Turkey.  

15.  It has now been 50 years since Mike was shot down.  This plaque is placed here in honor of Capt. Michael J. Estocin, with lots of love from his family and friends.