LTC Michael Francis Corcoran

(U.S. Army, Retired)

LTC Michael Francis Corcoran went home to be with the Lord on 28 February 2023 at Lexington Hospital in Columbia, SC. Michael had a gracious heart for people and a very generous spirit. Michael not only willingly gave of what he had, he also gave of himself for his family, his friends, and his country.

A visitation to celebrate his life and greet family will be held 5:00 pm -7:00 pm, Saturday, March 25, 2023 at Dunbar Funeral Home, Devine Street Chapel, 3926 Devine St, Columbia, SC.

A Celebration of Life and Burial will be at Arlington National Cemetery on a date yet to be determined.

Michael is survived by his beloved wife Dona (Balmer). She was his nurse, his companion, and his advocate following his stroke in May 2021. He is also survived by his sisters: Nora, Mary Joan and Annie and brothers: Kevin and John.

Michael was born April 14th 1956 at Fort Clayton in the United States Army Canal Zone in The Republic of Panama. He was the son of the late Colonel Edward Francis and Marie Corcoran.

He graduated from The Citadel, Military College of South Carolina in 1978 and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the Artillery Corp of the United States Army, after completing Airborne Training at Ft Benning GA. He served for over twenty years retiring in 2000 at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Michael served in a variety of assignments that took him around the world including assignments in Germany, Saudi Arabia and Bosnia.

In Germany Michael’s assignments included positions as a Battery Commander, Operations Officer and Executive Officer. In 1990 Michael deployed to Saudi Arabia in support of Operation Desert Storm serving as a Forward Observer for which he was awarded the Bronze Star and Air Medal. In 1999 Michael deployed to Bosnia in support of Operation Joint Endeavor and served with the NATO Implementation Force (IFOR) charged with enforcing the cease-fire, and separating the former warring factions.

LTC Corcoran’s awards and decorations include; the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with Oak Leaf Clusters, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Army Overseas Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, NATO Medal (Yugoslavia) and Kuwait Liberation Medal.

He was a graduate of the US Army Artillery School and the Air Force Command and General Staff College. He received a Baccalaureate Degree in Mathematics from the Citadel, Military College of South Carolina and Master’s Degree in Human Resources Management from Troy State University.

Following his military service, Michael enjoyed a career as a Certified Financial Planner with both First Command Financial Services and New York Life. Michael was also the President and Founding Partner of AquaOx Water Purification Systems, a local company that provides state of the art water purification systems for both residential and commercial applications.

He was a member of the Military Officers Association, the Order of Saint Barbara, the Citadel Alumni Association and St John Neumann Roman Catholic Church.

Michael was passionate about clean water because he understood how its living giving benefits correlate to human health and quality of life. In lieu of flowers, consider honoring his legacy with a donation to Water for Good, which will specifically go towards drilling new wells in Africa. Gifts may be made at waterforgood.org/donate or sent to 9511 Angola Ct, Suite 257, Indianapolis, IN 46268. Michael was also an avid dog lover so gifts may be sent to the Charleston Animal Society (charlestonanimalsociety.org).