I arrived on the USS Elrod a very short time after Mike did and worked on his brother Rick’s duty section. He was a very funny guy, as was his brother. I was thinking of the two them and some of the other fellows from Deck Div. just the other day and started to look up Mike online. Sadly, I found this obituary all these years too late. My condolences to his family, he was a great kid. The picture is of Mike and BM3 Richard Troy Wright onboard the Elrod circa 1990

Micheál de Búrca
BM3 Elrod 89-91




I first met Mike on the USS Stark, he was a great Boatswain's Mate and a great guy overall. He will be missed. 
Fair Winds and Following Seas.
Charles Quick, OSC(SW) USN Retired.

My condolences, Randy Thomas BMC(SW) USN (ret)

Becky,
 He really touch my life. He really touch the soft spot in my heart.
Mendy, RN

Becky, Clarice and Family: My heart goes out to you on your loss. May the Holy Spirit comfort you and give you peace. Kathy Lynn (Your mom's neighbor)

I'm sorry for your loss. May the love of friends and family carry you through your grief during this difficult time.

Our deepest and heartfelt sympathy for Mike's Loss.  It was an honor to have met him.  Beckie - Please do not hesitate to contact me if I can be of further assistance.  God Bless and Take care.      
   Lollie Merencillo (Navy Safe Harbor)

Mike 
You Gave Me A FriendShip That I Will Truly Treasure Forever & I Am So Glad To Call You Brother & A Friend!! I Truly Miss You & Your Laugh!! Thank You For The Fond Memories!! I Love You Brother & Wish You A Restful & Peaceful Journey Home.

Rest in peace my fellow Boatswainsmate and brother!!!!!!

I have nothing but incredibly endearing memories of our tour together. I can honestly hear him say "Shannun, this is what you have to do" ... He is one of the good guys!  my prayers to the family.

I served with Mike on the USS Elrod (FFG-55) first duty station. He was one of the most exemplary sailors I ever served with. Seldom complained and was usually the first to show for an evolution. Constantly looking to learn what it took to be a Boatswainsmate. He took it all in with ease and excelled. I had just recently hooked up with him again on "together-we-served". He'll be missed. Fair winds and following seas shipmate. Paul D. Rector, BMC (SW)(ret.)DAV

Becky and Clarice,

Mike was a truly amazing man and will be missed dearly.  It was an honor to have known him.  You know where we are and that we are here for you if you need anything.  You are in our prayers.

Much love - Chris, Jenna, Grace & Matthew

Saint Peter, during your watch today you will probably encounter a fellow that shouldnt be standing in your line. Please inform Saint Brendan that a Chief is coming through and to be ready for him with his personalized coffee cup and prepared to show him to the water tight door adjacent to the pearly gates adorned with the golden sign- "Uncover, Knock, then enter". Rest your ores Mike Birtcher. You are home

Dear Becky and Clarice,

We are sorry to hear about Mike's passing and will keep all of you in our prayers.

My condolences to the family, mike was a brother who always looked out for his fellow fraternity sisters and brothers (Chief Mess) no matter the issue he was there to do his part, he will be greatly missed by all.

Becky, Our prayers are with you and your family.  Love, Donna Landy and your PC Family.

Becky & Clarice,
Sorry for your loss.  May your memories sustain and encourage you through this difficult time.  Praying for peace for you both.

My Dearest Friend, my heart aches with you. Mike loved you with all of his heart, soul and mind. This was clear to me, crystal clear. It was an absolute honor to be at his bedside. The love shared between you two was amazing and a model for what true love should be. Please know that I am here for you as I will always be. Believe that God is watching over you and will lift you up in times of need. I love you my friend. Endlessly and forever.

Becky and family,
We are so sorry to hear about Mike. Our prayer's are with you during this hard time. 

Your Neighbor,
George and Kim Cunha

From our family to yours, we send our love. Troy mentions how devoted Mike was during the chief induction and how Mike was one of the best leaders. May his memory live on for decades for those lives he has touched.

Beckie and Clarice~
I am so happy that Mike found the two of you to share his life with,  When he spoke of the two of you it was with complete love and adoration.  
Mike was a very strong man who could do a lot of things and at the same time his tough exterior would soften around him for those he cared for.
He was a GREAT friend who in times of trouble would take the time to listen, advise and guide.  He never gave me bad advice, only friendship and strength in what I needed to do to succeed.  I have many wonderful memories of him that I will cherish forever in my heart, locked away for eternity.  
When I first met Mike we worked at Sima, Mayport together and what I remember the most is that he was ALWAYS being called to the Master Chief's office because he would not allow his personnel to be subjected to work overload and with his job that would sometimes be the case.  He stood up for the under dog and had the integrity that some wish they could have.
He had an infectious laugh and could tell the most amazing stories.  
He always spoke highly of his family and wasn't afraid to gush over how much he loved you.  
I salute you and Clarice , thank you for taking care of him, his oars have rested and you are an angel. Fair winds and following seas Mike, my friend, my brother.

Mike was one of the first I had a chance to meet when I arrived to the USS Stark back in 1996. He was a BM2 when I first met him. He was definitly one of the Best people I knew on that ship. I learned alot from him and alot about what it took to be a good sailor. Mike you will be missed and I will never forget the watches we stood together and the valuable lessons you taught me. He was a very positive and a very motivational person. Farewell and smooth seas my friend...

Beckie, over the past 20 years, you have become a sister to me and my heart grieves with yours. Mike was your Knight in Shining Armor, a loving father and an amazing friend. I saw the happiness he dedicated himself to putting on your face daily and his laughter will remain in my memory forever. It was my absolute honor to have been at his bedside.  It is my absolute honor to be your friend.  May God bless you and keep you. May His countenance shine upon you and may you have peace. I will always carry Mike's memory in my heart and until time is no more - you shall always be my Best friend and sister. I love you.

This is really a sad day for me because we have lost a good sailor and mentor. Birtcher was a BM 2 on the Stark where I first served on my first ship in deck Dept. He guided me in the right path and kept me out of so much trouble and I was so thankful for him. My clearest memory of him was when Birtcher was driving R.H.I.B. and I was the bow hook in the very front of the boat and he had hit a swell that threw me in the air about 5 feet and I came down on my knee and he laughed so hard about it...sounds mean at the time because I was in pain but I got over it and he joked with me all the time about it. I soon left the Stark and I found Birtcher on Together We Served website some years later and he was a BMC then and we caught up with one anothers career and talked about old times on the Stark. I told him how thankful I was for his guidance and that he played a roll in my present state of mind about the navy. He never once mentioned that he was struggling with cancer....I'll miss you bro...My prayers go out to your family.

The Chief's mess is one Brother short for muster.  Fair winds and following seas Shipmate.  We have the watch.  Gob bless.

AWOC(NAC/AW/EXW) Ken Jenzen

I worked with Mike at CNRMA and I always loved talking sports with him.  Mike was very passionate either about his family or his sports.  I am thankful for his positive influence he had on me.  I am so sorry for your loss, but it is heavens gain.

I will always remember Mikes calm determination. The way he could electrify those around him. He has an indomitable spirit. I have a few sea stories with him impacting my life but this one is the one I remember the most- It was a night when Mike calmed me down after I had discovered (or thought I discovered) that one of our other liberty buddies had evaporated. Opening my eyes and seeing that the guy we were sharing a room with was no longer in his clothes (they were laid out as if he was still in them- hat, shirt jeans and two shoes at the end of the jeans legs...but no person) I started to panic. I started thinking "what would Boats do?". With no answers forth coming, I woke Mike up. He calmly surveyed the scene. "Relax, he isn't going too far the way he's dressed now. We'll find him in the morning." Mike said to me and rolled over and went back to sleep. Initially that didnt do anything to calm me down. But Mike is a Boats AND a Chief. Either one make him a Macgyver in most situations. Just being a BMC makes him the unequivocal answer guy for all questions in the entire universe. That realization calmed me enough to go back to sleep. Sure enough, in the morning we found our wayward partner and the lesson that Boats is always right was reaffirmed

Mike was very professional and a good person. A classic Boatswains Mate and a good shipmate on the STARK.  God Bless him and his family.

Becky, as you know, Mike and I went through Chief's Induction together.  He was an awesome brother to us all.  Always encouraging us.  Just that pillar of strength and that voice of reasoning.  I love you Mike and just miss seeing you and greeting you with a "hey bro" how's it going?  Mike is the one that introduced me to Buffalo Wild Wings.  I love that place.  Rest in Peace bro God's got you now.

our love, hearts, support and strength are poured into you, clarice and the entire birtcher family. may god be with you and hold you all in the power of his love and embrace. love you, beckie.

My heart goes out to the Birtcher family as we cope with the physical lost but celebrate the immortal spirit of Mike.  Rarely do you meet someone who makes a positive, lasting impression on you.  Especially when you are only around them for a short period of time but Mike is that type of person.  He will forever shape my views of what makes a leader great.   Fair Winds and Following Seas..Friend.  Command Master Chief Clifton Moore.

So sorry to hear of your loss, Mike was a great and special guy and 1st cousin he will be greatly missed.  We will keep you and Clarice in our thoughts and prayers -  Debbie and Don Rath (Gulfport, Mississippi)

I remember the first day I met Mike. He came to the Stark as a BM2 and myself an E3. We made our initial "Test Jabs" at each other and after about a minute, I immediately respected him and he became a true friend on and off the boat. He had a sense of Duty and Honor that I tried to emulate during my service. I was still a boy at the time but became a better man simply because I knew him. I am sure there are a number of Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines who can easily make the same statement. Mike was just one of those leaders; he led from the front and made you want to follow. Even though it has been years since I saw him last, I will never forget his laugh or his influence. Fair Winds and Following Seas "Boats"....Job Well Done....  Chad A. Daman (BM3)

Becky,Mike grew up with us, him and rick loved to go fishing with uncle Ernie(Dukes Brother).I have alot of good memories of mike young and old.I am So proud of the man he had become.It breaks my heart he had to go home to the lord at such a young age,but i know he is happy cause he is now reunited with his mom,his 2 brothers David and Rick.I will miss him very much.Love Ruth Birtcher-Keys

Becky,
Mike is one of those people who sets you at ease the first time you meet. I always enjoyed talking with him. I will miss him very much. In the days ahead remember Judi and I will be here for you when ever you need us. May God bless you. We both love you.  Charlie

Becky, before I met Mike your dad told me that I would really like him. He was right, I liked him the first time I saw him and still felt the same way about him the last time I saw him. My heart is breaking for you right now. God bless you! Love Judi

AVIS DE DÉCÈS

BMC Michael L. Birtcher

23 novembre 1970 – 30 novembre 2011

Parklawn-Wood Funeral Home & Memorial Park

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