Michael David Kortjohn's Obituary
Michael David Kortjohn, 57, US Army, Ret, of Yelm, WA passed away on April 18, 2019. Mike was born in Springfield, MO, moved to Dayton, OH, where he graduated from Wright State University with a degree in Political Science, before joining the US Army in 1986.
He is survived by his mother, Jacqueline Clendenon (nee Seal); two magnificent sons, Brendan and Aiden; brothers, Daniel (Linda), and Stephen; as well as several aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father, Richard Kortjohn.
Mike retired as a decorated Army Intelligence veteran, serving multiple tours involving numerous combat and classified missions. Included among them were Desert Storm; Somalia, at the time of the Blackhawk Down incident; twice to Bosnia during the Bosnian Genocide; Korea, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait.
On two occasions, Mike sacrificed himself by protecting his team. Once, after the vehicle they were in was attacked by a mob. He jumped out of the vehicle with his weapon and pushed back the crowd so that he and his team could escape. The second incident was at a Bosnian airfield. While under attack by enemy aircraft, Mike told his team to get to a bunker while he stayed above ground to conduct coordination for protection from NATO and US aircraft.
Mike received multiple awards, combat decorations and campaign ribbons. He was a parachutist with multiple parachute badges from foreign countries and a trained aviator with aviator wings. He retired with expertise in multiple career fields, while being highly respected and loved by his peers in the Military Intelligence community.
After retirement from the Army, Mike worked as an analyst in conjunction with the Department of Homeland Security, while also employed as an adjunct professor at Central Texas College.
Rest in Peace Mike!
A service with military honors will be held for Mike on Friday, May 17, 2019 at 10 am, at the Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent, WA. Memorial contributions will be accepted for “The Kortjohn Boy’s” c/o KeyBank, P.O. Box 574, Yelm, WA 98597.
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