Sgt. Maj. Mike Vining: The Man. The Meme. The Army Legend.
An EOD technician and founding member of multiple elite units, Vining made his mark on Army history early in his career when he helped destroy a weapons cache with over 7 million rounds of ammunition.
He gained fame online as the subject of Army memes, thanks to his unassuming demeanor and stack of medals.
In honor of his birthday, here’s a small part of his incredible story.
Inspired by WWII movies, Vining wanted to defuse bombs from a young age.
He joined the Army in 1968 at just 17 years old, graduating from EOD training two years later.
Soon after, he volunteered to deploy to Vietnam with the 99th Ordnance Detachment.
Pictured: Sgt. Maj. Vining in the bottom left corner.
In May 1970, Vining deployed with the @1stCavalryDiv to a site that would become known as Rock Island East, the largest enemy weapons cache discovered by U.S. forces during the war.
The cache included:
▶️ 932 individual weapons
▶️ 85 crew-served weapons
▶️ 7,079,694 small arms and machine gun rounds
▶️ Nearly 1,000 rounds of 85 mm artillery shells for D-44 howitzers and T-34 tanks
Vining and the other EOD techs worked under fire and in swarms of biting red ants.
He set up “scare charges” to keep enemy forces away from the security perimeter. He then made it aboard a helicopter, just in time to witness the detonation.
The team used 120 cases of C4 to destroy 327 tons of munitions. The explosion created a mushroom cloud visible from 50 miles away.
Rock Island East was wiped off the map.
Vining re-enlisted in 1973 and continued his EOD service at Fort Leonard Wood, later joining a special counterterrorism unit.
He also served with the 176th Ordnance Detachment (EOD) at Fort Richardson, Alaska.
He went on to serve at JSOC as an exercise planner and Special Plans sergeant major.
Over his career, Vining earned numerous awards, including Legion of Merit Medal, Bronze Star Medal, two Defense Meritorious Service Medals, Army Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal, two Joint Service Achievement Medals and the Army Achievement Medal.
He officially retired in 1999 and was inducted in the Ordnance Corps Hall of Fame in 2018.
Described by admirers as looking like “someone who would kill you and then do your taxes,” Vining rose to internet fame in the early 2000’s when his retirement photo and details of his career made the rounds.
Over the years, countless celebratory memes featuring his face took on many forms, including custom Pokémon cards made in his honor.
To this day, his story and career continues to inspire service members and military enthusiasts alike.
Join us in wishing a "Happy Birthday" to this true Army legend.
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