PINELLAS, FL, USA U.S. Air Force MSG, 38TH RESCUE SQUADRON, MOODY AFB, GA NEAR KABUL, AFGHANISTAN 03/23/2003
Mike was born in Minneola, Long Island on 19 Sep 1960. There he attended Half Hollow Hills high school and graduated in 1978.
He enlisted in the Air Force 8 Aug 1978. His first duty position was as an apprentice cable splicer assigned to the 1931 Communications Group, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska.
From the period of December 1980 through march of 1997, Michael received amany awars and commendations for his performance. Among the most notable:
Mike cross-trained into pararescue in Dec of 1985. He successfully completed the very difficult and demanding Pararescue Indoctrination Course, Army Special Forces Scuba School, Water Survival, Army Airborne Training, Air Force Survival School, and the Pararescue Recovery
Specialist course. He attained fixed wing and rotary wing aircrew qualification and attended an Advanced Combat Tactics Course. Mike was awarded his maroon beret and his hard work and academic excellence led to his selection as class honor graduate.
From 12 Dec 86 thru 19 Nov 89 Mike was assigned to the 55th Aerospace Rescue & Recovery Squadron. He was awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal for outstanding achievement near Addis Ababa for search and subsequent recovery of Congressman Mickey Leland and delegation missing on a humanitarian mission in Ethiopia.
Mike received the Air Force Commendation Medal for the rescue of two German climbers stranded at the 20,000 ft level on Mount McKinley level suffering from severe hypothermia and cerebral edema. He treated their injuries and evacuated them to the 17,000-foot base camp. Also during this time frame he was one of eight climbers to summit Mount McKinley at 20,320 ft. His solid leadership was instrumental in the squadron receiving “most improved pararescue facility in rescue” from Headquarters Air Rescue Service. Mike maintained a 4.0 GPA in CCAF Associate degree Applied Rescue Science Program.
He earned the coveted Aerospace Achievement Award and graduated the ATC Command NCO Academy on Lackland as a distinguished graduate. As a line instructor, his proactive vision and professional leadership resulted in record graduate numbers, increasing student accessions 40 percent while decreasing attrition by 10 percent. At the US Army Master Fitness Trainer School at Ft Hood, Texas he won honor graduate award for best academic/physical record and attained the highest PT point total. He was also recognized as the faculty’s best communicator and instructor.
From 21 Mar 94 – 20 Mar 97 Mike was assigned to the 41 Rescue Squadron, Patrick AFB, Florida. Here he was selected as Air Combat Command HC-130P Pararescueman of the year and received the coveted First Fighter Wing “Warrior Award” for his superlative efforts. He also was credited with the saving of two Spanish civilians severely injured while skiing.
And on 21 Mar 01 he was assigned to the 38th RQS, Moody AFB, GA. Here Mike was handpicked as the first Joint Search and Rescue Center PJ representative in SWA and was an excellent advocate for combat rescue operations. He was primary jumpmaster and instructor on 25 critical upgrade training flights. He provided emergency medical treatment during a car accident near coalition compound; successfully treating two OSI agents and two Saudi nationals.
Mike was a vital contributor in his unit’s wide-ranging support of the 347th Rescue Wing and Air Force Mission. He’s a cherished father and a truly professional Pararescueman. He is survived by his sons Kyle and Kody; his grandmother, Alice Maltz; his mother, Patricia Iverson; his dad, John Maltz; his sister, Terri M. Strappoli; and his brothers Derek and Richard Maltz.