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A HERO IN BIG BROTHER'S EYES

Mike risked mortar fire to help wounded soldier in Iraq

by NAOMI ULICI


Growing up, Michael looked up to his older brother, Brian. But the roles reversed this March when Mike returned from Iraq a war veteran.

With a deep sense of admiration and pride, Brian, 25, describes how his younger brother helped a fallen soldier as mortar shells exploded around them.

Men ran for cover as the mortars blasted their base of operation, but Mike ran toward the wounded man. He tried to stop the bleeding from a severe head wound, while screaming for a medic. Four more mortars hit nearby as he tried to help the man. Minutes later, the medic arrived and plunged a tube down the soldier’s throat to help him breathe.

"This is supposed to be my little brother. He could have died," Brian said, describing the tears he shed when he first heard about the incident.

His 23-year-old brother, however, said he feels weird when people call him a hero.

"I was just there when no one else was," he said. "You kind of have to do it, you can’t run."

The first explosion was completely unexpected, and no one knew if it was a car bomb or what, Mike said. He just remembers looking at the wounded man and thinking he was dead.

"That really woke me up. It could have been anybody. It could’ve been me," he said, adding that he felt a lot closer to God because of the experience.

"He was facing his mortality every day. It made him realize the more important things in life," said his older brother, who describes himself as a strong Christian. He had faithfully prayed for Mike every day.

A quiet, laid-back guy, Mike said he was aimlessly trying to find his place in life before he joined the Army National Guard. He wasn’t really interested in school or any specific career.

When he first signed up, a year after graduating from Woodbridge High School, he didn’t even read the paperwork.

"I had no idea I would be called out," he said of his shock when he got deployed to Saudia Arabia, where he got to live in a condo, work three days a week and have full-access to a nice gym and pool.

Six months later, he returned home with $25,000 in pay, which he promptly spent on a car, clothes and parties.

When he was asked to go to Iraq, a war zone, he went willingly, not exactly sure what he was getting into.

His buddy Vic, also an Irvine resident, decided to go too – for a little excitement.

The two discovered just how dangerous, a "little excitement" would be. Saudi was a vacation in comparison to Iraq, Vic said.

Assigned to escort high-ranking officials in Baghdad, they were shot at from empty buildings and had to constantly look out for roadside bombs.

Dicarlo served as gunner on a Humvee and Mike was the driver. When Mike got caught in the mortar attack, Dicarlo was at home in Irvine, on a two-week furlough.

"I was really proud of him," he said, of Mike’s bravery.

"I tell everyone about it. He doesn’t give himself much credit, but he helped save that guy’s life."

By the end of their 12 months in Iraq, they were ready to leave.
"I grew up a lot," Mike said. He also has a newfound respect for the opportunities America offers.

"People over there are going hungry, all of their kids have diseases, the water is terrible," he said. And to add to the chaos, they have mad traffic, he said.

"We’re lucky to be here. I want to take advantage of it," he said.

He wants to start attending classes at a community college. And this time, he is investing the money he made during his service and hopes to own his own construction business.

He’s spending a lot of time with his mom, dad, sister and brother.

"Growing up, we didn’t have too many things in common," said Brian, "but this woke me up to how minimal our differences are."

"He’s my brother. I appreciate him."