Michael William Craighead was born on July 4, 1949 in Topeka, Kansas to William and Erika Craighead. A few minutes after he was born his twin sister Linda followed. Bill and Erika met when Bill was stationed in Germany in World War II. Mike had 3 other sisters, Angela, Renee and Stephanie.
Mike’s dad Bill was in the Air Force and he retired when his son Mike had orders to go to Vietnam and father and son could not both be sent at the same time.
Because Bill was career Air Force, the family lived in Topeka, Kansas three times, West Palm Beach, Florida, Puerto Rico and Albany, Georgia. Mike graduated from Dougherty High School in 1967. After high school graduation on September 10, 1967, Mike enlisted in the Army. He spent time in Fort Devins, Massachusetts where he was in the Honor Guard. He served with the Army Security Agency from 1967-1971. He intercepted and translated North Vietnamese code while serving in Vietnam in 1968-1969. He also completed one year of college while in the Army. He was honorably discharged on August 26, 1979.
Upon his return, Mike met his baby daughter, Jennifer who was four days old. This marriage ended in divorce. He attended and graduated from Washburn University in Topeka with a bachelor’s degree in accounting. He also earned a Masters Degree from the University in Kansas in 1983. He loved his Jayhawks, especially basketball.
Mike worked in Medicare fraud, in the 1970’s and was Finance Director for the Kansas and Nebraska Foundation for Medical Care. He was also the start-up financial director for the Kansas Lottery.
He received a direct commission in the Kansas National Guard as Captain in 1980 where he served for a number of years. Mike wore suits and ties for so many years that it became his trademark to wear a Tommy Bahama shirt, flannel pants with polar bears on them, suede fur line hard sole slippers, his KU leather jacket and a baseball cap. He would hire staff and said if they wore a suit and tie he would fire them. He never had to fire anyone for that reason.
He and his 5 year old daughter Jennifer met Joni on a blind date in January 1977. They got engaged three weeks later and were married on September 3, 1977. It was love at first site. They had a daughter, Staci, his “cupcake, sweetheart, sunshine.” They were married for 30 years before Mike went to Heaven on April, 27, 2007 from causes related to Agent Orange from his service in Vietnam.
Mike enjoyed time with his family, traveling, food, was active in Republican Party politics, and loved to watch Nebraska football and Kansas basketball. He had a dry, wicked sends of humor, loved to make people laugh.
Honor and Remember Nebraska Chapter is pleased to present this flag sponsored by Shirley Beekman, family of Staff Sargeant Jerry Beekman, who also died from Agent Orange, to the family of Captain Michael W. Craighead.