Rose to receive Medal of Honor
HUNTSVILLE – Retired U.S. Army Captain Gary Michael ‘Mike’ Rose will receive the Medal of Honor from President Donald J. Trump at a White House ceremony on Oct. 23.
Rose, a Huntsville resident, will be rewarded for conspicuous gallantry while serving as a sergeant during the Vietnam War, according to U.S. Army Public Affairs at the Pentagon. (army.mil/medalofhonor/rose) With the 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne),
Rose voluntarily risked his life on multiple occasions during combat operations while serving as a combat medic.
During Sept. 11-14, 1970, his unit was engaged with a numerically superior force, deep in enemy-controlled territory. Rose risked his life to enemy fire numerous times to provide medical aid to his comrades and used his own body to shield a wounded American from harm.
Rose will be the 69th living soldier to receive the Medal of Honor for actions in Vietnam. He is the 19th combat medic to receive the medal. His induction ceremony will be held at the Pentagon’s Hall of Heroes.
Enlisting in April 1967, Rose attended Basic Training at Fort Ord, Calif. and Infantry Advanced Individual Training at Fort Gordon, Ga. He was promoted to Private First Class and attended Jump School at Fort Benning, Ga.
Rose began Special Forces Training at Fort Bragg, N.C. He graduated as Special Forces Medic and was assigned to 7th Special Forces Group. In April 1969, Rose was assigned to 46th Special Forces Company, headquartered in Lopburi, Thailand.
In April 1970, Rose was re-assigned to Military Assistance Command, Vietnam, with Studies and Observations Group, 5th Special Forces Group.
After Spanish Language School in Anacostia, D.C., he deployed to Panama with 8th Special Forces Group (later designated 3rd Battalion, 7th Special Group).
In 1973, Rose was selected to attend Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Ga. and was commissioned as Second Lieutenant, Field Artillery. He completed basic and advanced Field Artillery courses by assignments in New Mexico; Fort Sill, Okla.; Germany; and Korea.
Rose earned a bachelor’s degree in education and military science from Cameron University and a master’s degree in communication from University of Oklahoma.
He retired from the U. S. Army in May 1987 and then worked as an instructional designer. He wrote operator, user and maintenance manuals, along with training curriculum.
He permanently retired in 2010. He and wife Margaret married in 1971. They have three adult children and two grandchildren. He has remained involved in charity activities, primarily with Knights of Columbus.
