The October 11 HOG Dinner will honor Mike Korsch. Please read his story here. We thank Mike for his service to our country and our community. 

Mike Korsch is a former Asst. Chief in Copiague FD, in Long Island, NY. As a retired NYPD Detective, 3rd grade, and with 37 years in the Volunteer fire service, Mike has an unwavering dedication to New York’s community. 

Mike was among the 1st responders in the 1993 WTC bombing, as well as a 1st responder to the September 11, 2001 attacks on the WTC. He is a survivor of the 2nd tower collapse who, in the 7 months following the attacks, dedicated himself to identifying over 500 victims through fingerprint restoration of their remains. Mike was also a 1st responder to the crash of flight 587 in Rockaway Queens, NY that took place November 15, 2001, where he assisted in identifying the remains of 270 victims lost in the crash.

15 months after the attacks and being exposed to the hazardous environmental conditions at Ground Zero, he developed throat cancer, and was reclassified as a victim in 2007 under the World Trade Center Act that was enacted by President George W Bush. Please read THIS LINK related to the World Trade Center Health Program to understand better the fight Mike fights daily.

After his retirement, Mike moved to Acworth, Georgia in 2004; now, as a member of the Board of Directors of the Georgia Chapter of the Terry Farrell Firefighters Fund, Mike continues to honor and support firefighters throughout America, both active and fallen. From July 23 to August 4, 2011, Mike travelled with 3 of his brother firefighters and his 12-year-old son on a 3100-mile journey across the country. Together, the four men traveled to California’s San Diego Fire Museum on board a fire truck, sponsored by Ferrara Fire Apparatus from Baltimore, MD, with a piece of WTC steel from tower 2; stopping in Tuscaloosa, Alabama to deliver a tractor trailer load of surplus fire equipment to the Fire Departments ravaged by the April tornadoes. Through this fund and various organizations, Mike does all he can to raise awareness for those who gave their lives in the attacks, urging us to never forget the fallen or their families.

Mike continues to struggle with numerous health issues as a result of 9/11, including a mild stroke he suffered from recently. Any amount of financial support we can offer as a community would a long way towards helping this special guy.