Family Friend Speaks Out About American Hero Killed In Midland Train Crash
By: Allison Morrison
Updated: November 16, 2012
Thursday's train crash tragedy in Midland is particularly devastating for one Lubbock family.
Cory Rogers, along with his wife Aimee, are close friends with Joshua Michael.
Michael was one of four veterans killed in the accident.
"You could pick up the phone and talk to him or call him and you knew that he was going to be there. It wasn't a question of, 'well, let me clear my calendar,' it was more, 'my calendar's clear, what do you need,'" Rogers said.
The selflessness that Rogers' spoke of was made even more evident, Thursday.
Rogers said Michael was in Midland with his wife Daylyn, taking part in a parade honoring veterans.
"They were the last float in the parade. There was a float in front of them, cars behind them, so they couldn't necessarily go forward or move back and Josh did sense or did see and hear the train coming at the last minute and reacted and got to Daylyn and pushed her off and saved her life," he said.
Rogers said Michael served two tours in Iraq and was awarded two Purple Hearts for his service.
He was medically discharged from the Army in 2006 after being hit by two roadside bombs.
Ultimately, though, it wasn't war that took Michael's life.
"We want people to remember him as a hero, an American hero, an All-American hero at that. That he gave his life for the one he loved the most and that's what, as a man, as a husband, as a father, I would hope that I would do the same thing if my kids or my wife's life was on the line," Rogers said.
Rogers created a website in honor of Michael.
Go to http://www.sgtjoshuamichael.com/ to read more about Michael's time in the Army.
You can also donate to the Michael family on the site.
Cory Rogers, along with his wife Aimee, are close friends with Joshua Michael.
Michael was one of four veterans killed in the accident.
"You could pick up the phone and talk to him or call him and you knew that he was going to be there. It wasn't a question of, 'well, let me clear my calendar,' it was more, 'my calendar's clear, what do you need,'" Rogers said.
The selflessness that Rogers' spoke of was made even more evident, Thursday.
Rogers said Michael was in Midland with his wife Daylyn, taking part in a parade honoring veterans.
"They were the last float in the parade. There was a float in front of them, cars behind them, so they couldn't necessarily go forward or move back and Josh did sense or did see and hear the train coming at the last minute and reacted and got to Daylyn and pushed her off and saved her life," he said.
Rogers said Michael served two tours in Iraq and was awarded two Purple Hearts for his service.
He was medically discharged from the Army in 2006 after being hit by two roadside bombs.
Ultimately, though, it wasn't war that took Michael's life.
"We want people to remember him as a hero, an American hero, an All-American hero at that. That he gave his life for the one he loved the most and that's what, as a man, as a husband, as a father, I would hope that I would do the same thing if my kids or my wife's life was on the line," Rogers said.
Rogers created a website in honor of Michael.
Go to http://www.sgtjoshuamichael.com/ to read more about Michael's time in the Army.
You can also donate to the Michael family on the site.
