MICHAEL H. OKLAK

Aug. 3, 1942 - Dec. 2, 2007
SOUTH BEND - Chief Warrant Officer, U.S. Army (Ret.) Michael H. Oklak, 65, died on Sunday, Dec. 2, 2007, at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN. Mike was born on August 3, 1942, in South Bend, to Mike and Ann (Stropka) Oklak. He is survived by his wife, Boonsri Oklak; two daughters, Mildred Oklak and Katharine (Steve) Shaw; and three grandchildren, Kristina Oklak, Maxwell Spicer and Sonny Spicer.

Mike attended several high schools in South Bend.

Mike was directed to join the U.S. Army where he served for over 20 years. Starting as a private (E-1), he was promoted through the ranks to platoon sergeant (E-7) and served eight years as an Officer and a Gentleman, with the rank of Warrant Officer. Then retiring as a Chief Warrant Officer (CWII) after 20 years of service. Mike took basic training and advanced training at Armored Calvary but was sick with pneumonia and was medevac'd to Japan for injuries and then was sent to Ft. Drum, NY, en route to Vietnam. Mike's first tour in Vietnam was with an American unit, second tour to Vietnam as a staff sergeant was with Delta-MACV with the advisor to the ARUN (Vietnam Army), then Thailand as a JUSMAG advisor. The third tour to Vietnam was as a MACV advisor and then later medevac'd to Walter Reed for treatment of cancer. He was also stationed in Ft. Ord with the 41st Infantry, Washington, D.C., with the 25 ID 1/5 Infantry, Berlin, Germany, as a staff officer with the New ACM Germany Nuclear Weapons Unit, Hawaii, as a staff officer with the 25 ID INF, and Ft. Knox Armor Brigade as a staff officer. Mike started his import business after retiring in 1985. In 1990 he became a member of the Board of Director of Uniform Service Disabled Retiree (USDR). Then later became president of USDR for 31/2 years. USDR started and lead the fight to change the federal law so retired military who were injured or wounded on active duty could receive both VA disability and earned military retiree pay. This was a great victory. His awards from the service included Combat Infantry Badge, Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (2nd Award), Army Commendation Medal (5th Award), Meritorious Unit Commendation, Army Good Conduct Medal (4th award), Army of Occupation Medal (Berlin), National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, NCO Professional Development Ribbon, Signal Corps Badge, Ordnance Corps Badge, Combat Infantryman Badge, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Vietnam), Humanitarian Service Medal (Baby Lift), and Vietnam Honor Medal 2nd Class.

Mike was a loving and dedicated husband, father and grandfather. Mike and his wife, Boonsri, were married for 36 years. This was the first marriage for both. His family regularly attended Sts. Peter and Paul Serbian Orthodox Church. Both daughters graduated from college, Indiana and Purdue University. Mike was a professional soldier, businessman and a retired military veteran advocate and leader. He was a former Director of the Board for Michiana Steelheaders on the Board of Directors at Sts. Peter and Paul Orthodox Church, a Life Member of the DAV, Investment Club activist and Past National President of USDR - lead the fight for "Concurrent Receipt" (wound of injury pay - service-connected and earned military retire pay).

Mike will be missed by his friends around the world. Funeral services will be conducted at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 6, 2007, in Sts. Peter & Paul Serbian Orthodox Church. Burial will follow at Sacred Heart Cemetery. Family and friends may call from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. today in the Zahoran Funeral Home, 1826 S. Kemble Avenue, where a prayer service will be recited at 7:00 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to Sts. Peter & Paul Serbian Orthodox Church. To leave the family an online condolence or to share memories with the family, please visit our website www.zahoran.com.

Published by South Bend Tribune on Dec. 5, 2007.

02/18/2023  EJS