Military Veterans

Celebration of Freedom panel

Michael J. Dice

Date of Birth

13 January 1958

Brick Location

Liberty Side

Panel Number

17B

Biography

Michael J. Dice served in the U. S. Navy from 1976 to 1980.   His rank and job title:  Petty Officer Second Class, Sonar Technician Geographic.  

Michael Dice monitored shipping traffic off the coast of Iran during the Iranian hostage crisis.  He was stationed on a destroyer escort (USS Cook FF-1083) in support of the carrier USS Nimitz during the failed rescue attempt of the hostages.  

(On 4 November 1979, the U. S. Embassy in Tehran, Iran, had been overtaken by a group of Islamist students and militants in support ot the Iranian Revolution, and 52 hostages were held.  "Operation Evening Light" was launched from Nimitz's decks in an attempt to rescue the U. S. Embassy staff).  The hostages were finally released on 20 January 1981, the Inauguration day of U. S. President Ronald Reagan.)


Michael was born 13 January 1958 in Independence, KS, and graduated from El Dorado High School in 1976. He is married to the former Denise Wakefield of El Dorado,  They are the parents of two children, Jennifer and Jeffrey.

Branch:

U.S. Navy

Rank

Petty Officer 2nd Class

Years

1976 to 1980

Duty

Sonar Technician Geographic