View source for Michael J. Estocin

{{Infobox military person
|name=Michael J. Estocin
|birth_date= {{Birth date|1931|4|27}}
|death_date= [[presumption of death|presumably]] {{Death date and age|1967|4|26|1931|4|27}}
|birth_place=[[Turtle Creek, Pennsylvania]], US
|death_place=Presumed near [[Haiphong]], [[North Vietnam]]
|placeofburial= remains never recovered; memorial marker placed at [[Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery]], [[San Diego, California]]
|placeofburial_label= Place of burial
|image=LCDR Michael Estocin of VA-192, taken during their 1966-1967 Western Pacific combat cruise.jpg
|image_size=
|caption=U.S. Navy photograph of then–Lt Cmdr Michael J. Estocin, taken during the Oct 1966 – May 1967 Western Pacific cruise of the {{USS|Ticonderoga|CVA-14|6}}
|nickname=
|allegiance=United States of America
|branch=[[File:United States Department of the Navy Seal.svg|25px]] [[United States Navy]]
|serviceyears=1954–1967
|rank=[[Captain (United States)|Captain]] (posthumous)
|commands=
|unit=[[VFA-192|Attack Squadron 192]]
|battles=[[Vietnam War]]{{MIA}}
|awards=[[Medal of Honor]]<br/>[[Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)|Distinguished Flying Cross]]<br/>[[Purple Heart]] (2)<br/>[[Air Medal]] (12)
|relations=
|laterwork=
}}
'''Michael John Estocin''' (April 27, 1931 &ndash; April 26, 1967 <small>(presumed)</small>) was a [[United States Navy]] officer and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the [[Medal of Honor]]—for his actions in the [[Vietnam War]].

==Biography==
Estocin was born on April 27, 1931, in [[Turtle Creek, Pennsylvania]],.<ref name=Sherwood>{{Cite book |last=Sherwood |first=John Darrell |authorlink=John Darrell Sherwood |title=Fast Movers: America's Jet Pilots and the Vietnam Experience |publisher=[[Free Press (publisher)|Free Press]] |year=2000 |location=New York |pages=191–195 |isbn=0-312-97962-2}}</ref> He graduated from [[Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania|Slippery Rock State Teachers College]] in 1954.<ref name=Veterantributes>{{Cite web|url=http://www.veterantributes.org/TributeDetail.php?recordID=475|title = Veteran Tributes}}</ref>

==Military career==
Estocin entered the Naval Aviation Cadet program on June 11, 1954, and was commissioned in September 1955.<ref name=Veterantributes /><ref name=citation>{{Cite web |publisher = [[United States Army Center of Military History]] |title = Medal of Honor recipients - Vietnam (A-L) |work = Medal of Honor citations |date = July 16, 2007 |url = http://www.history.army.mil/html/moh/vietnam-a-l.html |accessdate = 2007-07-30 |archive-date = 2009-06-27 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090627093600/http://www.history.army.mil/html/moh/vietnam-a-l.html |url-status = dead }}</ref>

===Vietnam War===
By April 20, 1967, Estocin had reached the rank of [[lieutenant commander]]<ref name=citation/> and was an [[A-4 Skyhawk]] pilot<ref name=Sherwood/> in [[VFA-192|Attack Squadron 192]], operating off of the {{USS|Ticonderoga|CV-14|6}} in the [[Gulf of Tonkin]]. On that day, he supported a bombing mission over [[Haiphong]], [[North Vietnam]].<ref name=citation/>

===April 26 mission===
Six days later, on April 26, he supported another strike aimed at Haiphong's [[thermal power station]], with [[John B. Nichols]] acting as his escort in an [[Vought F-8 Crusader|F-8 Crusader]]. Estocin and Nichols flew ahead of the main attack and were charged with suppressing any [[surface-to-air missile]]s (SAMs) in the area. The strike on the power plant went without incident, and the two pilots were about to head back to the ''Ticonderoga'' when Estocin detected an active SAM site. A single missile was launched from the site and exploded near his A-4, knocking it into a [[barrel roll#Aviation|barrel roll]]. Estocin was able to regain control and pulled the aircraft, burning at the belly and [[wing root]]s, into a 30&nbsp;[[Degree (angle)|degree]] dive.<ref name=Sherwood/>

Estocin's [[wingman]], John Nichols, immediately called for a [[helicopter]] rescue. He flew beside the stricken plane, getting close enough to see Estocin in the [[cockpit]] with his head bent forward slightly, not moving. He tried to contact Estocin by radio but received no response. As the A-4 lost altitude and entered a cloud bank, Nichols continued to follow it, even as a second SAM exploded nearby. After reaching {{convert|600|ft|m}}, he leveled off and watched as Estocin's plane fired its remaining Shrike missiles and impacted with the ground. He circled the area, looking for a [[parachute]], but saw nothing. Nichols called off the rescue mission and returned to the ''Ticonderoga''.<ref name=Sherwood/>

Although Nichols was certain Estocin had been killed in the crash, [[Military intelligence|intelligence]] from [[Hanoi]] indicated that he had [[ejection seat|ejected]] and been captured. The U.S. military declared him a [[prisoner of war]], causing Nichols to feel deep guilt for having called off the rescue mission. When the prisoners were released in 1973 and Estocin was not among them, it was presumed that he had died in captivity.<ref name=Sherwood/>

In 1993, a committee investigating the cases of missing U.S. military personnel concluded that Estocin was never captured and had indeed died in the crash of his plane.<ref name=Sherwood/> Estocin's disappearance and presumed death occurred one day before his 36th birthday.<ref name=citation/> A marker in his memory was placed in [[Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery]], [[San Diego, California]].

==Awards and honors==
For his actions during the missions over Haiphong on April 20, and April 26, 1967, Estocin was promoted to [[Captain (United States)|captain]] ''[[wikt:in absentia|in absentia]]'' and awarded the [[Medal of Honor]].<ref name=citation/> In 1976, his parents ran him{{clarify|date=September 2019}} as a [[write-in candidate]] for [[President of the United States]] to bring attention to prisoner of war/[[missing in action]] issues.<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20040818235304/http://havelshouseofhistory.com/Campaign%20Items%20of%20Obscure%20Candidates%203.htm Presidential Campaign Items of Obscure/Fantasy Candidates]}}</ref> The U.S. Navy named the [[guided missile frigate]] {{USS|Estocin|FFG-15}}, launched in 1979, in his honor.<ref name=Sherwood/>
{| style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
|-
|colspan="3" |[[File:Naval Aviator Badge.jpg|220px|center]]
|-
|colspan="3"|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Medal of Honor ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=|type=award-star|ribbon=Distinguished Flying Cross ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=award-star|ribbon=Purple Heart ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|other_device= |type=oak|ribbon=Air Medal ribbon.svg{{!}}border|width=106}}<span style="position:relative; top: 0px; left: -84px; display: inline-block; width: 0;"></span><span style="position:relative; top: 0px; left: -63px; display: inline-block; width: 0;">[[File:Award numeral 1.png|22px]]</span><span style="position:relative; top: 0px; left: -48px; display: inline-block; width: 0;">[[File:Award numeral 2.png|22px]]</span>
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=|type=|other_device=v|name=Navy_and_Marine_Corps_Commendation_Medal_ribbon|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Combat Action Ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=United_States_Navy_Presidential_Unit_Citation_ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=|type=service-star|ribbon=Navy Unit Commendation ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|ribbon=National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=|type=service-star|ribbon=Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=3|type=service-star|ribbon=Vietnam Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Vietnam gallantry cross unit award-3d.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Vietnam Campaign Medal ribbon with 60- clasp.svg|width=106}}
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto; text-align: center;"
|-
|colspan="3"|[[United States Aviator Badge|Naval Aviator Badge]]
|-
|colspan="3"|[[Medal of Honor]]
|-
|[[Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)|Distinguished Flying Cross]]
|[[Purple Heart]]<br />w/ [[5/16 inch star|{{frac|5|16}}" Gold Star]]
|[[Air Medal]]<br />w/ [[Strike/Flight numerals|Strike/Flight Numeral]] 12
|-
|[[Commendation Medal#Navy|Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal]]<br />w/ [[Valor device|Combat "V"]]
|[[Combat Action Ribbon]]
|[[Presidential Unit Citation (United States)|Navy Presidential Unit Citation]]
|-
|[[Navy Unit Commendation]]
|[[National Defense Service Medal]]<br />w/ [[service star|{{frac|3|16}}" bronze star]]
|[[Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal]]
|-
|[[Vietnam Service Medal]]<br />w/ three {{frac|3|16}}" bronze stars
|[[Vietnam Gallantry Cross|Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation]] 
|[[Vietnam Campaign Medal|Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal]]
|-
|}

The Michael J. Estocin Award was created by the U.S. Navy to recognize meritorious achievement by a [[strike fighter]] [[squadron (aviation)|squadron]]. The award, originally sponsored by the [[McDonnell Douglas]] corporation, is a trophy with a polished black stone base and an 18-inch (46&nbsp;cm) stainless steel ribbon topped with a stylized model of a strike fighter aircraft. It is awarded annually to the strike fighter squadron with the greatest professional reputation, aggressiveness, and operational performance.<ref>{{Cite web|title=OPNAV Instruction 1650.24B |publisher=[[United States Navy]] |date=March 3, 1998 |url=http://www.combatindex.com/mil_docs/pdf/opnav/1600/1650-24B.pdf |accessdate=2008-07-14 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040620020717/http://www.combatindex.com/mil_docs/pdf/opnav/1600/1650-24B.pdf |archivedate=June 20, 2004 }}</ref>

===Medal of Honor citation===
Captain Estocin's official Medal of Honor citation reads:
<blockquote>''For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty on 20 and 26 April 1967 as a pilot in Attack Squadron 192, embarked in USS ''Ticonderoga'' (CVA-14). Leading a 3-plane group of aircraft in support of a coordinated strike against two [[Thermal power station|thermal power plants]] in Haiphong, North Vietnam, on 20 April 1967, Capt. Estocin provided continuous warnings to the strike group leaders of the [[surface-to-air missile]] (SAM) threats, and personally neutralized 3 SAM sites. Although his aircraft was severely damaged by an exploding missile, he reentered the target area and relentlessly prosecuted a [[AGM-45 Shrike|SHRIKE]] attack in the face of intense [[antiaircraft]] fire. With less than 5 minutes of fuel remaining he departed the target area and commenced [[Aerial refueling|in-flight refueling]] which continued for over 100 miles. Three miles aft of ''Ticonderoga'', and without enough fuel for a second approach, he disengaged from the tanker and executed a precise approach to a fiery arrested landing. On 26 April 1967, in support of a coordinated strike against the vital fuel facilities in Haiphong, he led an attack on a threatening SAM site, during which his aircraft was seriously damaged by an exploding SAM; nevertheless, he regained control of his burning aircraft and courageously launched his SHRIKE missiles before departing the area. By his inspiring courage and unswerving devotion to duty in the face of grave personal danger, Captain Estocin upheld the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.''<ref name=citation/></blockquote>

==See also==
{{Portal|Biography}}
*[[List of Medal of Honor recipients for the Vietnam War#E|List of Medal of Honor recipients for the Vietnam War]]
*[[List of people who disappeared mysteriously: 1910–1990|List of people who disappeared]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Estocin, Michael J.}}
[[Category:1931 births]]
[[Category:1960s missing person cases]]
[[Category:1967 deaths]]
[[Category:Aerial disappearances of military personnel in action]]
[[Category:American people of Slovak descent]]
[[Category:Aviators killed by being shot down]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Aviators from Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Military personnel missing in action]]
[[Category:Missing aviators]]
[[Category:Missing person cases in Vietnam]]
[[Category:People from Turtle Creek, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:United States Navy captains]]
[[Category:United States Navy Medal of Honor recipients]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Air Medal]]
[[Category:Vietnam War recipients of the Medal of Honor]]
[[Category:United States Navy personnel killed in the Vietnam War]]