Michael Joseph Bingo Jr.

SERGEANT MAJOR MICHAEL JOSEPH BINGO, JR. (RETIRED) Michael Joseph Bingo, Jr, of Lakewood, CO passed away of a heart attack on 16 January 2016, while visiting San Diego, CA. He was born and raised in an Italian neighborhood in Rochester, NY. He was athletic and took part in boxing, baseball, football, and the occasional street fight.   Mike spent 32 years in U.S. Army Special Forces as a Green Beret and retired as a Sergeant Major. His assignments included Ft Bragg, NC; Fort Devens, MA; Denver, CO; Germany, Italy, Japan, China, and two combat tours in Vietnam. Mike served in the 1st, 5th, 10th and 19th Special Forces Groups as well as the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center. He was awarded the Legion of Merit, two Bronze Stars, one for valor, the Purple Heart, 3 Meritorious Service Medals, 3 Air Medals and various other U.S., Republic of Vietnam, and Chinese awards. From 1969-1972, Mike was stationed with Special Forces in Taiwan and met his wife, Yen, with whom he had two children. Also in Taiwan, Mike became a senior student of the martial arts teacher, Hsu Hong Chi, of the famous Tang Shou Tao lineage. From Master Hsu, Mike learned the internal martial arts: Xing I (Hsing-I) and Qi Gong. His martial arts training not only helped his skills in the military, it also helped him handle the stressful effects of war.   After retiring from the US Army, Mike opened the Sin Lung Kwoon, his martial arts school in Denver which he dedicated to his teacher. He taught classes 6 days/week until last year. After Yen, his wife of 32 years passed away from Breast Cancer, Mike found happiness again when he met and married Kim, his second wife.   Mike will be remembered, respected and missed by those who knew him and by those who served with him. Mike was fearless, open-minded and he had a huge heart. He loved to get together with friends, laugh, drink beer, travel and cook Italian food, especially his famous Spaghetti sauce. He is preceded in death by his first wife, Yen. He is survived by his wife, Kim; his son, Jason and daughter, Lanya; his granddaughter, Camryn, and two brothers, Richard and Vincent. We will miss you and we salute you, Mike! In lieu of flowers donations can be made to The Special Operations Association SOA Warriors Family Fund at \http://www.specialoperations.org/soa/donate/. Please share your memories of Mike and condolences with his family by signing the guestbook below.