Douglas “Mike” Day, a former Navy SEAL and Silver Star recipient, passed away on March 27, 2023, at the age of 51. He was known for his remarkable survival story after being shot 27 times by enemy insurgents in Iraq in 2007. His death came as a shock to many who admired his courage and resilience. What was the cause of his death and how did he overcome his near-fatal injuries?
A Heroic Mission Gone Wrong
Day was a senior chief petty officer (SEAL) who served 21 years in the Navy and participated in several combat missions. On April 6, 2007, he was leading his SEAL platoon on a raid against an al Qaeda cell in Fallujah, Iraq. Their objective was to capture a high-ranking member of the terrorist group.
As Day breached the door of a room where four enemy fighters were hiding, he was met with a barrage of bullets that knocked his rifle out of his hands. He fell to the ground and switched to his pistol, shooting back at the assailants. One of them pulled the pin on a grenade and ran towards the hallway, but Day killed him before he could reach it. The grenade exploded near Day, wounding him with shrapnel.
Day briefly lost consciousness, but when he woke up, he continued to engage the remaining enemies with his pistol. He managed to kill all four of them, despite being shot multiple times from close range with AK-47 fire.
According to his Silver Star citation, Day “displayed extraordinary heroism and uncommon valor” during the firefight. He also protected a group of women and children who were in the building from harm. He used the radio of his fallen teammate, Joseph “Clark” Schwedler, to contact the rest of his team and inform them of his situation.
A Miraculous Recovery
When Day’s teammates arrived at the scene, they were stunned by the extent of his injuries. He had been shot 16 times in his abdomen, arms, legs, groin, and buttocks. His body armor had stopped another 11 shots. He also had grenade shrapnel in his body.
Day walked to the MEDEVAC helicopter without assistance, saying that he did not want to be carried because it would hurt more. He was flown to Baghdad, then to Landstuhl, Germany, and finally to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland.
Day underwent several surgeries and spent two years recovering from his wounds. He also suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI) as a result of his ordeal. He later wrote a memoir titled “Perfectly Wounded” where he shared his story and how he coped with his physical and mental challenges.
Day retired from the Navy in 2010 with numerous awards and decorations, including the Silver Star, two Bronze Stars (one with combat valor), and the Purple Heart. He also received the Grateful Nation Award from the Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs in 2008.
A Sudden Death
Day’s death was announced by Naval Special Warfare Command on March 30, 2023. The command said that it mourned “the loss of an outstanding Naval Special Warfare teammate” and that Day’s “courage and grit formed the standard we uphold in the community today.”
The exact cause of Day’s death was not revealed by his family or the Navy. However, his widow, Genevieve, told the Associated Press that he became dehydrated while golfing a few weeks earlier on a hot Florida summer day. He was treated at a hospital following this episode, but he was apparently unable to recover.
Day’s death came as a shock to many who knew him or followed his story. He was widely respected and admired for his bravery and perseverance. He was also an advocate for wounded veterans and supported various causes related to their well-being.
Day is survived by his wife and four children. He will be remembered as a hero who gave everything for his country and never gave up on life.
