Sergeant Michael Tokarz joined the United States Army in 1979. Michael was assigned as an Infantry Paratrooper to the First Special Operations Command. He was a member of the 82nd Airborne Division during Operation Urgent Fury in 1982.
During his four years of active duty he and his unit operated in Panama, Egypt, Sudan, Korea, Europe, and Honduras from their home base at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina. After leaving active duty he was assigned to numerous Reserve Units as he moved from technical college to new jobs. He served as a Drill Instructor, Combat Engineer, and Wheeled Vehicle Mechanic. He finally left the Reserves in 1990.