Michael L.
Emerson
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 went to Newport Mill Jr. High School, and graduated from Wheaton high School in 1979, four months after his 16th birthday (Michael was academically accelerated and allowed to skip 1st and 11th grades). Growing up, Michael and his family spoke mostly French in the home, he 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 received his primary Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) 0311, which is an Infantryman. After Infantry Training School, Michael was stationed at Camp LeJeune, North Carolina with the 1st Battalion/2nd Marines (1/2), Bravo Company, in the unit's Heavy Weapons Platoon. While with 1/2 Michael went from being an Infantryman to a Mortarman (MOS 0341). In addition, Michael also became 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 Caribbean, Central and South America and participated in military 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 West Africa for military cross training in Zaire, Congo, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Togo, Ghana, Guinea, and Nigeria.
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 NCOs and even the Ambassadors of the various countries he 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 he visited during UNITAS/WATC military operations.
Michael was also a linebacker and played on the 2nd Marines Regimental Football team.
Michael also went to Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) School at Parris Island, South Carolina and was third in this class. Michael left active duty in April 1986.
After Michael left active duty and settled in the San Francisco Bay Area, he chose 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 of the Persian Gulf War 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 Award Ribbons.
Michael is a LIFE member of the following Veterans organizations:
Veterans of Foreign Wars - VFW.
The American Legion - TAL.
Marine Corps League - MCL.
Disabled American Veterans - DAV.
American Veterans - AMVETS.
Michael was selected and appointed as a "National Aide-de-Camp," by Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) 2010-2011 National Commander-in-Chief Richard L. Eubank.
Michael is also the recipient of the California State Legislature Assembly 20th District's:
"2011 VETERAN OF THE YEAR" award.
Michael is a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Post #9601 and The American Legion, Post #649, both located in Castro Valley, California.
Michael is a member of the Marine Corps League, Detachment #919, located in San Leandro, California and the Disabled American Veterans (DAV), Chapter #7, located in Oakland, California.
Michael has also been a very active member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Honor/Color Guard in Alameda County, California for many years.
Michael is also a member of the Patriot Guard Riders (PGR), which is an organization that accompanies military personnel from their homes 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 MOM, which is an organization that collects donations of toiletries and snack foods that we pack up into "care packages" and mail to the troops serving overseas.
Michael is also a Charter/Founding Member and past President of the Student Veterans Organization (SVO) at California State University East Bay in Hayward, California.
CIVILIAN LIFE:
After leaving active military duty, Michael traveled around the Southern and Western United States 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 found employment in the real estate industry in the Sunnyvale, CA, Los Altos, CA and Palo Alto, CA areas of the "South Bay," near the city of San Jose, in Santa Clara County, California. 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 has been a very successful Electronics Hardware Manufacturing and Supply Rep Company for 20+ years. In 2004, Michael took Trust/Trustee classes, he is now also a part-time Professional Trustee, in which he consults on and 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).
During the 2000s, Michael earned a Bachelor Degree in Economics, with a Minor Degree in History, at California State University East Bay, Hayward, California 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 national speaking and presentation club.
Michael has traveled the World and so far has traveled to and visited 147 countries on almost every continent (not Antarctica). His goal is to travel and visit all 300+ countries on the planet Earth; and if future technology allows it, to also visit the Moon.
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 a community volunteer for more than 25 years.
Michael is also the recipient of the 2007 California State University President's Student Service and Leadership Outstanding Citizenship Award.
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 to 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.
Michael is the Designer and Project Build Manager for the Castro Valley Veterans Memorial in Castro Valley, California. This Memorial is being built to honor all of our Military Veterans. With the help of other veterans in Michael's Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post #9601, in Castro Valley, California. Our goal is to complete and dedicate the Memorial on Independence Day, 4 July 2012. For more information, to donate, and to get involved please visit: www.CVVM.info
Michael is also the founder, originator, creator, co-designer and fundraiser for The Flight 93 Memorial in Union City, California 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 spending hundreds of hours of time and effort, and with the aid of a lot of good people and organizations, The Flight 93 Memorial, Union City, California 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 a member of a special National Steering Committee to help build the Flight 93 NATIONAL Memorial in Shanksville, PA. This Steering Committee consists of a total of 24 people including: President Clinton, President Bush (Jr.), Vice-President Biden, 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. For more information and to get involved please visit: www.HonorFlight93.org.
Part of Michael's duties in helping build the Flight 93 NATIONAL Memorial in Shanksville, PA as a member of the 24 person National Steering Committee of the National Park Foundation is to help raise funds. One of Michael's fund raising activities was that he persuaded rose hybridizer J.B. Williams to donate a genetic one of a kind rose, red with a white stripe in the center of the petal. Michael named the rose "THE 9/11 FLIGHT 93 ROSE." Michael then negotiated with several flower nurseries located around the USA to grow and sell, for a donation, the rose bushes to the public. For every rose bush sold for donation, $5.00 goes to help fund and build the Flight 93 NATIONAL Memorial. For more information and to order rose bushes please visit: www.Flight93Rose.com
Michael is also on the Board of Directors of the Somerset County Flag Committee, Inc. in Somerset, Pennsylvania which is located near the 9/11 - United Flight 93 crash site. The Somerset Flag Committee's purpose is to maintain the Veterans Memorial grounds area and also the 120 foot flag pole that was dedicated to the Heroes of United Flight 93 on 14 June 2009. The organization continues to seek 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.
Michael is also on the Board of Directors and the 1st Vice President of the Veterans Support Foundation (VSF) which is affiliated with the United States Armed Forces Association (USAFA). They are the charitable division of the Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) and was originally the Vietnam Veterans Assistance Fund (VVAF). Although Michael is a Persian Gulf War/Desert Storm veteran, he has been selected and honored to be the first non-Vietnam Veteran to formally be part of the organization. For more information, to get involved, and to donate please contact Michael directly and also visit: www.VSF-USA.org
