Michael Coy is the October 2024 Kosciusko County Veteran of the Month. Shown from left are Kosciusko County Veteran Service Officer Darryl McDowell, County Commissioner Cary Groninger, Michael Coy, Cathy Coy, daughter Tiffany Goff and County Commissioners Bob Conley and Brad Jackson. Photo by David Slone, Times-Union.

By David Slone
Times-Union

KOSCIUSKO COUNTY — An Air Force veteran from Syracuse is the Kosciusko County Veteran of the Month for October 2024.

Michael D. Coy was born May 15, 1952, to Wayne and Betty Coy with two siblings, according to Kosciusko County Veteran Service Officer Darryl McDowell. Coy graduated from Wawasee High School in 1970.

After graduation, he worked at Syracuse Rubber and then Overnight Trucking in Atlanta, Ga., before enlisting in the Air Force on May 10, 1973. Coy went to basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, and his advanced military training in aircraft maintenance tech at Shepherd Air Force Base, also in Texas.

Coy was then assigned to Malmstrom Air Force Base in Great Falls, Mont., as part of the air mobility squadron where they claimed to be anywhere called upon within 72 hours, McDowell said.

“That’s a tough challenge. That means you can’t be laying on your back foot. You’ve got to always be prepared. Seventy-two hours is much faster than you can imagine when it’s time to move,” McDowell stated.

On May 10, 1977, Coy was discharged as a sergeant.

On Jan. 2, 1997, he married Cathy at the Syracuse Church of God. They have six children, Rodney, Chad, Derrick, Melissa, Cayla and Tiffany; seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

After his discharge from the Air Force, Coy returned to work at Syracuse Rubber for a while, followed by Overhead Door in Syracuse and Rinker Boat Company for 26 years. He retired from Wawasee School Corporation until his friend, Kim Jones, asked him to take a job at the North Webster Community Center, where he still works today.

He loves fishing and spending time with his grandchildren, as well as attending baseball games, watching his grandson Addison play at Wawasee High School. He

volunteers at his church, the Syracuse Church of God.

McDowell presented Coy with his framed certificate and then offered Coy the microphone.

“I’d just like to say I’m proud to serve this country, with three generations of Air Force in my family, plus my nephew. We also served proudly. If I wasn’t so old, I’d do it again,” he stated.