Not sure where to post this, but, Mike Bollinger,64, (RET. US ARMY) died last night in his room of a reported heart attack. He was a fixture on Sukhumvit Soi 22 on the sub soi going to the 27 Hotel. He was always sitting outside his wifes salon wearing a white JUSMAG shirt and slacks, handing out hello's and advice to anyone who would listen, and often lending money to people that were broke, busted or had drank away their ticket home, and he was often not paid back. He was a good friend of mine and will be remembered. He has lived in Thailand for the past 20 years and in Bangkok for at least the last 14 years. He loved to argue about politics, but with me, we only talked about hunting and fishing, catching bullfrogs, catfish, crawfish and bbq, and of course the military. We were stationed together in Schofield Barracks Hawaii, me in B co., 1/5 Inf. (Bobcats) and him in the Wolfhounds in E or D quad in the mid 80's. I was a private and he was an E-6 SSG at that time. I have contacted his family in the states and the US Embassy this morning. I will put an update here of when and where his funeral will be or what will happen with him. He once told me he didn't want anyone spending a dime on him after he passed, but his nephew said he does have a plot at their family cemetary, plus he should receive a military funeral being that he retired from the Army after 23 years of decorated service.

I didnt know your friend, but he seems to have meant a great deal to you. My condolences.

Edited February 5, 201313 yr by homeownership

My condolences to you and his loved ones.

May he rest in peace.

Sounds like he was one of the good guys you will miss him but you will also remember him and that will be good enough for him methinks.

RIP

I too had Known "Big Mike" for years and will miss him, I would go by and see him when I could over at Soi 22 and would trade war stories with him, I retired from the Army after 30 years and ran accross him over the years. I hpe mike is at peace now and knows that he was loved.

Thank you for your service, Soldier. RIP.

Mike was a really great guy. I used to sit with him for hours outside that salon debating/arguing about politics. I can't believe I was thinking of going to see him the other day but just didn't have the time to make the detour. Really wish I had now.

RIP Mike

MIke's funeral is at Wat BangNa Nok near the BangNa BTS station, you'll have to go by taxi, tuk-tuk or motorcycle taxi from there. Or, easy access by boat from any pier to the Wat BangNa Nok pier.

He's having a 7 day wake/funeral that began Tuesday and will go through the weekend. The best time to stop by and see him and family is arrive a little before 18:30 and leave around 20:00 as the Monks will be there at that time. I will update as I get solid info., I'm not sure if the actual creamation is Sunday or Monday as TIT and confusion is rampant a talking in circles is common.

Mike will be creamated Monday evening at 18:30-20:00. 1 urn with half the ashes will remain in Thailand with his family here and half will go back to South Carolina to his relatives there. I also want to thank the US Embassy here in Bangkok for their outstanding job handling the details and assisting his family on both continents.

I went tonight and my wife went yesterday. It was a nice service but a correction to the above post the cremation monday starts at 1600 not 1830.

This has been verfied with Mikes family. I went tonight by BTS and it was hard to get a Taxi at the BangNa BTS. Monday I'm going to use the water taxi since the BangNa Nok pier is less than 100 meters from the Temple.

He was a great guy.I still remember that night he,Jerry Stonewall Johnson and myself went out must have been 20 years ago,seems like last week

Pmarlin, thank you for the update. Creamation 16:00 Monday. Also, when we headed back over tonight, we tried to take a boat from the Sathorn pier at 17:30 and there were no more public boats headed so we ended up on the bts again.

I can't be there on Monday. I hope someone goes.

Looks like the BTS for me again, Thanks for the info.

He sounds like a well like gentleman. I wish those left behind the best of luck during your sadness.