Mike registered for the draft on 16 October 1940. His height was 5' 8" and his weight was 170 pounds. He had hazel eyes, brown hair and a dark complexion.

He entered the service on 29 July 1942 from Hartford, Connecticut. He enlisted as a Private; he had four years of college education, was separated, without dependents and his civilian occupation was listed as: "Semiskilled occupations in fabrication of metal products, n.e.c." (possibly miscoded – in 1940, he was working for the John Hancock Insurance Company.)

It should also be noted he had no middle name, therefore 'no middle initial' (or "NMI" as the US Army characterized it).He was a member of the 437th TCG Association and was listed on their membership rolls from 1972 until 1990.