Honoring our Heroes

Senior Master Sergeant (SMSgt) Michael Springer served 26 years in the United States Air Force. His Air Force Specialties (AFSC) included: Professional Military Education Instructor for two years five months, Weather Superintendent for four years four months and Weather Technician for 18 years 11 months. His decorations, medals, badges, citations and campaigns included: Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with four oak leaf clusters, Air Force Organizational Excellence Award, Air Force Good Conduct Medal with seven oak leaf clusters, National Defense Service Medal with bronze service star, Vietnam Service Medal, Air Force Overseas Short Tour Ribbon, Air Force Overseas Long and Tour Ribbon with three oak leaf clusters, Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon with five oak leaf clusters, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Military Education Graduate Ribbon with two oak leaf clusters, Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon, Air Force Training Ribbon, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal and Master Meteorologist Badge.

Michael was born July 4, 1944 to his parents, Wilbur and Ethelmae Springer in Albany, CA. He was reared in Reno, NV, and in South Lake Tahoe, CA, where he was educated until he dropped out of school in 1960. He later received his GED while serving in the Air Force and finished coursework for a high school diploma from Merced High School, CA in 1963. He earned two Associate Degrees; one in Weather Forecasting in 1983, and another in Training and Education in 1989 from Community College of the Air Force (CCAF). Using the G.I. Bill, he graduated from Faulkner University with a B.S. Degree in Management in 1990, and received a Master's Degree in Human Resources Management from Troy State University in 1994. His military education included completion of programs at the Noncommissioned Officer Leadership School in 1971, the Noncommissioned Officer Academy in 1984 and the

Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy in 1987.

Sergeant Springer spent 23 years working in weather operations and solar observatories. He served at the Solar Observatory located at the National Observatory of Athens in Athens, Greece, at Holloman Solar Observatory in Holloman Air Force Base, N.M. and was an integral member of the establishment of the Learmonth Solar Observatory in Western Australia. He served two and one-half years at the USAF Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy (SNCOA) where he instructed senior noncommissioned officers from all U.S. military services and international services in leadership, management and communication skills. He served at 13 duty stations including Rantoul AFB, IL twice for technical training, Castle Air Force Base (AFB) CA twice, RAF Woodbridge, United Kingdom, Tan Son Nhut Air Base, Vietnam, Peterson Field, CO, Athens, Greece, Holloman AFB, NM, Exmouth, Western Australia, Mountain Home AFB, ID, RAF Upper Heyford, United Kingdom and Gunter AFB, AL. He received two Air Weather Service Annual Awards; the Air Weather Service Specialized Award for outstanding space support in1980, and the Technical Supervisor Award for excellence in weather station operations management in 1989. SMSgt Springer retired from military service May 31, 1991.

Since his military retirement, SMSgt Springer has worked in management of law and medical practices. These include: the law offices of Kaufman & Rothfeder PC, Gastroenterology Associates PC, and Capital City Gastroenterology, PC. He ultimately retired completely in 2010. SMSgt Springer and his wife, Margaret, have been married 36 years, and they have six children, 16 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. They enjoyed acting in amateur theater when they met in Australia, and are avid world travelers. He and Margaret do community service through volunteering to include Christmas in April/Rebuilding Together, Operation Christmas Child and others. He also enjoys playing golf. They are active members at Christchurch Anglican in Montgomery, AL, and he is a member of the Disabled American Veterans.

SMSgt Springer's conclusions about his military service are, "All of my education, training, opportunity, and value system are the result of my being in the US Air Force. I hope that people will remember me as being a proud American, a loving family man, and a follower of Jesus Christ."