THE WALL OF FACES

I served mass for Father Mike at Fort Ord's 8th Street Chapel while my mom played the organ and sang. I remember Father Mike as a soft spoken and gentle man. The priest Father Mike replaced was Father Don Hastings. He left Fort Ord for Vietnam as well.

At the time we all were counting the days until our dad's were deployed to Vietnam. I know that Father Mike volunteered for this duty and wasn't at Fort Ord very long. The news of his death came as a great blow. It was softened by the fact he was saving souls to the very end.

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Thank you Captain Quealy for your devotion and exemplary courage under fire.

Father Mike was the priest at Fort Ord, California. My brother and I served as his alter boys every Sunday. On occasion we would be hanging out at the chapel while Father Mike would be practicing his Sunday sermon to an 'empty' chapel. Upon leaving Fort Ord he deployed to Vietnam. He lost his life giving administering spiritual life to another, he would have had it no other way. Peace be with you Father Mike!

All gave some, Some gave all RIP Father Mike.

Fr. Mike's Mom (Margaret) was my Dad's first cousin. He brought his Mom and his Aunt Nora to visit us in Newark often. He shared stories from his assignment down South. It was quite a cultural shock to him after growing up in New York City. He was disgusted by the segregation. He was the sweetest guy, and we looked forward to their visits. I think we even visited him at Maryknoll. He wanted to be a missionary and he did that by becoming a chaplain.