The Mission

Michael O’Connor Pugh hails from Ann Arbor, Michigan.  Michael joined the U.S. Army at 19 and served for three years in Germany as a mechanized infantryman with the 3rd Infantry Division, serving in duty positions as a dismount team leader, squad leader, Bradley IFV gunner, and commander with deployment missions supporting NATO countries.  As a squad leader, Michael was responsible for the training, health, and welfare of a 9-man squad with 5.2 million dollars worth of equipment. He earned several Army Achievement and Commendation Medals for his service.

Michael re-enlisted as an Airborne Infantryman assigned to A Co. 2/505th P.I.R. 82nd Airborne Division with deployments to Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq.  Michael served as a team leader and squad leader.  During a deployment to Egypt, Michael served with the Multi-National Force and Observers (MFO) as a liaison between the Israeli and Egyptian Army and was awarded the Expert Infantry Badge.

During Operation Desert Shield, Michael deployed to Saudi Arabia and was responsible for the training, health, and welfare of a 9-man squad and several million dollars worth of equipment.  Other responsibilities included training the Saudi Army in Airborne Infantry tactics and weapon systems.  A Co. was chosen to provide QRF quick reaction force security for CENTCOM under General Norman Swartzkopft and General Colin Powell.

During Operation Desert Storm, Michael deployed to Iraq and was part of the largest Air Assault in the history of the U.S. Army.  He fought with distinction, leading his team into combat and earning an Army Commendation Medal.

Michael graduated from the Primary Leadership Development Course (PLDC), Basic Non-Commissioned Officer Course (BNOC), Airborne, Jumpmaster, Jungle Warfare, and Ranger Schools (class 1-92).

Michael was honorably discharged from active duty and re-enlisted in the California National Guard A Co. 4/160th Infantry stationed at San Diego and served as a squad leader and platoon sergeant. As a platoon sergeant, Michael served with distinction and honor and was deployed to Los Angeles under a state of emergency during the Northridge earthquake.

Michael received an associate degree from Grossmont College, studied for a Bachelor of Performance Drama at San Diego State University, and was awarded a merit scholarship to Oxford University England, where he completed a course of study for the British American Dramatic Academy, Baliol College.

In Hollywood, Michael created a start-up company, Gonzo Bros., with two partners providing service and support to the film production community.  He was a Music Video Producers Association member and worked on music videos for Ice Cube, Black Crows, Boys II Men, Wu-Tang Clan, Moby, and many others. Gonzo Bros. secured a contract to promote Occidental Studios, and Michael later worked directly for the largest commercial real estate developer in Hollywood that owned Occidental Studios.  During his tenure, Michael brought in over 60 feature films, television, music videos, and commercial productions such as ‘Fast and the Furious’, ‘Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, and MTV.

Michael moved to NYC during the telecommunications boom and worked as a sales executive for AT&T in Manhattan, serving his network of entertainment clients with internet and communication services.

In 2005, Michael moved to Bali, Indonesia, and worked in sales for several real estate developers and management companies and became a seasoned expert in Bali land investment and property sales. He was the senior agent for Exotiq Property (“Best Real Estate Company, Indonesia” 2009 CNBC / 2010 Bloomberg) Seminyak office from 2006 – 2011 and was “Top Sales Agent, Bali” for several years as well. 

Michael likes to volunteer, with his favorite in Bali being the International Humanitarian Foundation (www.ihfonline.org); for each property he sells, he donates funds to help support children who want to go to school, and as of 2010, he sponsored over 150 children.

Michael continued volunteering in Thailand, where he resided for ten years, teaching English to teenage Buddhist monks at the Mae Rim temple outside of Chiang Mai.

Michael’s sobriety date is January 20,2023 when he entered Miracles Asia treatment center in Phuket, Thailand where he completed a 90 day residential program.  While there he worked the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous with a sponsor.  He was in a residential sober house in Los Angeles  – ‘Puente House’ for sixty days, found a sponsor and continued to work a rigorous 12 step program and volunteered 20 hours a week at the Covina Food Bank.  Michael transitioned to Warriors Heart Lodge in Bandera, Texas  – a sober living community for military veterans and first responders and discovered his mission and purpose of sharing the experience of sober recovery with the warrior class.  Michael chairs Warriors Anonymous and AA meetings, and attends regular meetings in the local community. He got a new sponsor and continues to work a thorough recovery program to the best of his ability, and started sponsoring warriors in the community.  Michael volunteers for the Bandera Bulldogs high school football team.  Michael met the love of his life, a beautiful, spiritual woman walking the same path of recovery and service to others, and they married in February.