 
Michael L. Emerson - VFW Post #9601 - District 14
Michael is the oldest of eight children from French/German parents who emigrated from Western Europe. Michael was raised in the suburbs of Washington, D.C. in the towns of Silver Spring, Kensington & Wheaton, Maryland where he graduated from Wheaton High School in 1979, four months after his 16th birthday. Michael also lived and went to school for one year in Paris, France. He is still able to speak near fluent French.
MILITARY SERVICE:
At the age of 19, in April 1982 Michael joined the active duty United States Marine Corps where he enlisted as an Infantryman. Michael graduated from Marine Corps Recruit Depot - Parris Island, South Carolina boot camp on 18 August 1982, where he was second in his graduating platoon. After boot camp, Michael completed Infantry Training School at Camp Geiger, North Carolina, graduating once again second in his class on 15 September 1982. Michael was stationed at Camp LeJeune, North Carolina with the 1st Battalion/2nd Marines (1/2), Bravo Company. While with 1/2 Michael went from being an Infantryman (MOS 0311) to a Mortarman (MOS 0341), in addition, Michael was also a Machine gunner (MOS 0331). Because of Michael's swimming prowess, he was chosen to go to Water Safety Survival School, becoming a Water Safety Survival Instructor (WSSI) and graduated first in his class (earning an official secondary MOS 8563). During Michael's first overseas deployment he and his unit went on a 3 month NATO CRUISE on the U.S. Navy ship, USS Trenton, going to England, Scotland, Spain and Norway. While on the NATO cruise, he participated in the Navy "Order of the Blue Nose" initiation, becoming a "Blue Nose" when his ship crossed the arctic circle. On Michael's second overseas deployment, he and his unit were sent to the Philippines, South Korea and Okinawa, Japan on a 6 month WestPAC deployment, spending time on the U.S. Navy ship, USS Anchorage. Michael's final overseas deployment, while on active duty, was with UNITAS/WATC XXVI (United American States/West African Training Cruise 26) on the U.S. Navy ship, USS Saginaw. He went to the Carribbean, Central and South America cross training with our allies in Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Columbia, Panama, Ecuador, Peru, Chile, Uruguay, and Brazil. While in Panama, Michael received "The Order of the Ditch," which is a certificate for marching across land from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean along the Panama Canal (about 42 miles). Also, when the USS Saginaw crossed the Equator, Michael participated in the Navy "Shellback/Wog" initiation becoming a "Shellback." The UNITAS/WATC XXVI cruise also went to Africa for cross training in Zaire, Congo, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Togo, Ghana, Guinea, and Nigeria. Michael also went to NCO school at Parris Island, South Carolina and was third in his class. Michael left active duty in April 1986.
While on the UNITAS/WATC XXVI cruise, Michael was able to use his French speaking skills to translate for the Navy and Marine Officers, Staff NCO's and even the Ambassadors of the various countries visited and trained in. Michael was awarded a Certificate of Commendation from Rear Admiral R.C. Ustick for the "Superior Performance" of his translation duties.
Michael also played on the U.S. Marine Corps Volleyball team, playing against the National and Olympic Volleyball teams of the South American and African Countries visited during UNITAS/WATC military operations.
Michael was also a linebacker playing on the 2nd Marines Regimental Football team.
After Michael left active duty and settled in the San Francisco Bay Area, he decided to join the USMC active reserves in Alameda, CA. Because of Michael's French speaking abilities, Sergeant Michael L. Emerson's MOS was changed to Military Intelligence. With the 30th ITT (Interrogation Translation Team), Michael was trained as a French Interrogator and Translator (MOS 0251).
On 10 February 1991, Michael was officially recalled to active duty to participate in Operation Desert Shield/Storm until he was released on 30 March 1991. Michael received a Certificate of Commendation from Colonel W.J. Wood for his "Superior Performance of Duty" during the Desert Storm/Persian Gulf War.
During Michael's military service in the U.S. Marine Corps he was awarded 8 (eight) Medals and 5 (five) additional Service Ribbons.
Michael is a LIFE member of the following Veterans organizations:
Veterans of Foreign Wars - VFW.
The American Legion - TAL.
Disabled American Veterans - DAV.
The Marine Corps League - MCL.
Michael is a member of both the VFW Post #9601 and the American Legion Post #649, located in Castro Valley, CA.
Michael has been a very active member of the VFW Honor Guard in Alameda County, California for several years.
Michael is also a member of the PGR (Patriot Guard Riders), which is an organization that accompanies military personnel from their home to the airport when they deploy, and when they return from deployment accompanies them from the airport back home. We also attend and participate in military funerals and other military events to support the troops.
Michael is also a member of Operation MOMs, which is an organization that collects donations of toiletries and snack foods that we pack up and mail to the troops serving overseas.
Michael is also a current member and past President of the Student Veterans Organization (SVO) at California State University East Bay in Hayward, California.
CIVILIAN LIFE:
After leaving active duty, Michael traveled around the Southern and Western USA for about 2 months. At the end of his cross country trip in June, 1986, he arrived in the San Francisco Bay Area at the age of 23 with his car, $50.00 in his pocket and a backpack of clothes. Michael quickly got a job in the real estate industry in the Sunnyvale, CA., Los Altos, CA and Palo Alto, CA. area. In 1988, he decided to change his career and became a salesman for an Electronics Hardware Manufacturing Company in San Jose, CA. About a year later, he went to work at a larger company. Then in September, 1990, he decided to open his own Electronics company called Emerson Enterprises. Emerson Enterprises was an Electronics Hardware Manufacturing Rep Company, the company was very successful. At one point in the mid-1990's Emerson Enterprises was directly responsible for the manufacturing employment of over 1,000 people. But with the advent of NAFTA, the economy, the Internet bubble bursting, and 9/11 - Michael decided to close Emerson Enterprises in 2002. So far, Michael has traveled the world visiting 147 foreign countries and all 50 of our incredible U.S. States, including every major American city. In 2004 Michael took Trust/Trustee classes and is currently a Professional Trustee, in which he establishes both Personal Living Trusts and Irrevocable Business Trusts for individuals and businesses.
During the 1990s, while working full time, Michael earned a Business Degree in 1993 (with Honors) and a MicroComputer Degree in 1997 (Magna Cum Laude Honors).
Michael earned a Bachelor Degree in Economics, with a minor in History, at California State University, East Bay in Hayward, California, graduating in June 2009.
Michael is a LIFE member of the following College organizations:
College Fraternity "Alpha Phi Omega" (APO).
College Honor Scholarship Society "Alpha Gamma Sigma."
College Economics International Honor Society "Omicron Delta Epsilon."
Michael is also a past member and President of "Toastmasters International," a speaking and presentation club.
Michael currently lives in Hayward Hills, California where he enjoys spending weekends and holidays with his two fantastic sons who are the center of his universe.
Michael believes in giving back to the community and has been volunteering at nursing homes and has done other community volunteering for years.
Michael is also the originator, creator, project manager, and fundraiser for The Flight 93 Memorial in Union City, CA which was built to honor the Heroes of 9/11. After contacting the local families of the Heroes and getting their approval and support Michael contacted Union City, CA (the city of Hayward, CA had previously turned the project down) and they enthusiastically approved of the Memorial. Finally after 5+ years of time and effort, and with the aid of a lot of good people and organizations the The Flight 93 Memorial, Union City, CA was completed and dedicated on Saturday 8 Dec 2007. For more information and to get involved please visit: www.93Memorial.com.
After Michael completed the Flight 93 Memorial in Union City, CA. the National Park Foundation, which is a division of the National Park Service, and the Flight 93 Family Organization invited Michael to be part of a special National Steering Committee to help build the NATIONAL Flight 93 Memorial in Shanksville, PA.
This Steering Committee consists of 20 people including Army General Tommy Franks, past Pennsylvania Governor and Homeland Security Czar Tom Ridge, the owner of Outback Steak House Chris T. Sullivan, Campaign Manager King Laughlin and other individuals and Flight 93 family members.
In 2008, Michael and his American Legion Post #649 submitted and passed a Resolution in both the California Department/State and the National American Legion Organization endorse and support the building of the National Flight 93 Memorial in Shanksville, PA.
In 2009, Michael and VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) Post #554 (in Somerset, PA) submitted and passed a Resolution in both the Pennsylvania Department/State and the National VFW Organization to endorse the building of the National Flight 93 Memorial in Shanksville, PA.
For more information to help, get involved and to donate please email Michael and visit:
www.HonorFlight93.org & www.93Memorial.com.
Michael is also on the Board of Directors of the Somerset County Flag Committee, Inc. in Somerset, Pennsylvania which is located near the United Flight 93 / 911 crash site. The Somerset Flag Committees purpose is to maintain the 120 foot flag pole and grounds area that were dedicated to the Heroes of United Flight 93 on 14 June 2009. We are seeking donations to pay for the maintenance of the Flag Pole area and to purchase more of the 60 foot x 30 foot US Flags (about $2,000 each) that are flown daily. For more information, to see pictures of the Flag Pole, to get involved, and to donate please contact Michael directly and also visit www.SomersetFlag.org.
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