Chief Master Sergeant
United States Air Force
Michael P. Day, the son of Roger and June M. (Kerr) Day, was born on 1 February 1954. Michael, the oldest of seven children, loved life, had a great sense of humor, grew up being a tease to his siblings but was always obedient. He looked forward to any sporting event, either as a participant or a spectator. Michael was also a history buff.
He grew up doing typical jobs that young boys did. At home he would cut grass, take out the garbage, put away his own clean clothes, and keep the third of the room he shared with his brothers in some kind of orderly fashion. He branched out with his grass cutting skills by doing lawns in the neighborhood, along with sharing a paper route with his brother Shane. Once he started playing Little League baseball, he and his brothers started umpiring for other teams in Davenport and the surrounding area. Michael loved to umpire baseball games. One time he said, “Where could you see a ballgame for free and get paid for it.” Later on he worked at a movie theatre where he popped corn and ushered. The last jobs he held before he enlisted in the Air Force was working at a gas station on Brady Street, which is now gone, and painting for his Dad.
While at Assumption High School, you could count on Michael being at a dance or cheering on the Knights basketball team. Michael graduated from Assumption High School (Class of 1972).
Michael wanted to further his education after high school, so one day when the Air Force recruiters were visiting Assumption High School, he decided to enlist. Later that evening he told his parents. Michael fulfilled his dream when he earned his associates degree from the Community College of the Air Force and Georgia Military College, a bachelor’s degree from Park College, and received his master’s degree from Troy state University.
Michael began his military career with the United State Air Force when he enlisted on 31 January 1973. After completing his basic training and advanced training as a Security Policeman at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, his first assignment was at Kirkland Air Force Base, New Mexico as a security patrolman and entry controller, and then was assigned to the 48th Security Police Squadron, Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England as a communicator plotter. From 1978-82, he was a Security Police Academy instructor at Lackland Air Force. After that, he was with the 151st Security Police Group, Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, where he served as the noncommissioned officer in charge of Security Police Training.
In January 1985, he re-trained into the First Sergeant field. His assignments included the 487th Headquarters Squadron, Comiso Air Station, Italy; the 513th Supply Squadron, Royal Air Force Mildenhall, England; the 513th Security Police Squadron; and deputy director, Family Support Center, and finally was part of the 48th Security Police Squadron in England.
He married Denise Cundell of Long Eaton, Nottinghamshire, England and is the proud father of two daughters; Katrina and Melissa.
Two days prior to his retirement from a brilliant military career, Michael died of a massive heart attack on 19 June 1995, in Lakenheath, England. The Air Force became his life for twenty-two years, a second family. He got the opportunity to travel and saw many things that most people only dream about. He met many challenges and met a lot of interesting people. And he was always positive.
Besides his wife and two daughters, Michael was survived by his parents; sisters Julie Ryan, Mary Watkins, Christina Wagschal, Kathleen Sones; and brother and sister-in-law Shane and Sheri Day. He was preceded in death by his younger brother Roger Day Jr.
Chief Master Sergeant Michael P. Day, United States Air Force, is buried at the Rock Island National Cemetery. Among his many awards include the Meritorious Service Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal, Air Force Achievement Medal, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with five Oak Leaf Clusters, Humanitarian Service Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal with one device. Three-time winner as the First Sergeant of the Year for the Airborne Command and Control Wing, 16th Air Force, 487th Tactical Missile Wing, and the 351st Strategic Missile Wing. In 1983 he was the Noncommissioned Officer of the Year for the 351st Strategic Missile Wing.
Source of Information:
1. Quad Cities Times, 27 June 1995, page 4M.
2. Letter and photos from June Day dated 26 April 2004.
(Photo courtesy June Day)
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