Life of Dad American Heroes – Mike McNicoll

Tommy Riles
November 12, 2012

Tommy Riles

Lives in: Los Angeles
Occupation: Comedian & Audience Warm-up, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Life of Dad Founder
Twitter: @tommyriles
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At Life of Dad, the social network for dads, we’re happy to honor heroic dads who serve our country, as well as their family.

Today we feature Mike McNicoll, a member of the United States Marine Corps, and an excellent father of four.

Born and raised in the San Fernando Valley of California, Mike married his wife Erica in April of 2005 and was commissioned as a Marine officer the following August. As an infantry officer he’s been deployed twice, once to Iraq (10 days after his twin daughters were born), and once to Afghanistan (3 days after he found out Erica was pregnant with their third daughter). He’s been living in Colorado for the past three years, working as an Officer Selection Officer for Colorado, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Wyoming (and regularly traveling throughout these states.) The family will be moving to Quantico, Virginia in the next couple of months where Mike, currently a Captain, will begin training for the next stage in his military career.

Mike and Erica’s kids are Kaitlyn and Ashley (identical twins, 5), Michelle (3) and Andrew (6 months). They are teaching their girls to love the outdoors – they go camping, fishing, swimming and hiking whenever possible. They catch snakes and Mike is even teaching Kaitlyn and Ashley how to shoot a 22-caliber rifle. Mike also caters to the “girl” in his daughters, brushing and styling their hair, taking them for ice cream, coloring, and engaging in snow ball fights in the winter and pillow fights all year.

Mike loves to run and workout regularly. He’s an avid hunter and fisherman, and it’s not uncommon for his family to eat a meal where he has provided the meat and they pick the vegetables from their garden! He also likes to catch a good zombie movie whenever possible.

When talking about the balance between life as a father and as a Marine, Mike said the following:

“It is easy to perform both duties as a father and a Marine. I leave my work at work. I take a second before I get out of my car and remind myself that I am going into my home and not an office or a tent. I remember that I am going to see four very happy ladies and a nonstop smiling son. Wearing both of those hats is not too difficult as long as you prioritize what is more important and family will always come first.”

Mike, thank you for what you do for our country, and your family every single day!

Do you have somebody you want to nominate as a Life of Dad American Hero? Email me at tom@lifeofdad.com!

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