Captain Michael Marcel and his son Rocky hunted for doves last fall. CONTRIBUTED

Veteran of the Week

MADISON – Dr. Michael Marcel’s military service started when he was 17 years old.

“I turned 17 on June 2, enlisted June 6 and left June 20 for basic training at Fort Dix, N.J. in 1990,” Marcel said. He was assigned as a single-channel radio operator (31C) at Fort Devons, Mass. and achieved rank of private first class.

“I was discharged from U.S. Army Reserve to attend Norwich University in Vermont full time under an Army ROTC scholarship,” Marcel said. He received a regular army commission in Armor as second lieutenant in 1995.

Marcel completed Armor Officer’s basic course at Fort Knox, Ky. and was assigned to Fort Stewart, Ga. In 1998, he finished top in class at Infantry Mortar Leader Course at Fort Benning, Ga. and assigned as Tank Platoon Leader, Battalion Liaison Officer and Headquarters Company Executive Officer.

He was deployed to Kuwait as Infantry Mortar Platoon Leader in Operation Desert Thunder I and II and Operation Desert Fox. He left active duty as a Captain in 2000.

He worked in a post-doctoral position in mechanical engineering at the University of Alabama and earned a doctorate’s degree in electrical engineering. He moved to Madison in 1997.

“Exciting work in Huntsville brought me to the area. I started working at DRS Technologies as engineering specialist,” Marcel said.

A professional engineer, Marcel now works as principal engineer at Dynetics.

Marcel’s 13-year-old son Rocky attends Heritage Academy in Columbus, Miss. “I see Rocky every other weekend. He spends (most) of summer here in Madison,” he said.

A life member of National Rifle Association, Marcel is NRA-certified as instructor (pistol, rifle and shotgun) and Range Safety Officer. He holds membership in Veterans of Foreign Wars and Disabled American Veterans. He volunteers at Grace Pointe Baptist Church.

With American Legion Post 229, he serves as Sergeant of Arms, on building committee and in fundraisers and placing of wreaths in Madison cemeteries.

Marcel enjoys shooting sports and competitions, especially at Last Resort in Madison. With Rocky, he restores and drives antique cars and motorcycles, hunts and fishes. He’s an avid reader and recently adopted a puppy named Lucy.