Founder Bio

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Sergeant First Class USA, Ret. Michael J. Geary was born in Norwood Massachusetts. He graduated from the Military Police School One Station Unit Training at Fort Leonard Wood January 2003. He was awarded the additional skill identifier for Protective Service Agent after completing the Protective Services Detachment and Anti-terrorism evasive driving course. He is a Modern Army Combatives program level 2 Instructor. He is a unit prevention leader and Anti-terrorism trainer. 

During his 12+ years of service, Sergeant First Class Geary served in both the Massachusetts and New York Army National Guard. He enlisted as a Soldier in the 211th MP BN only to be transferred upon completion of training to 42nd ID to complete a law and order mission in Grafenwoehr Germany. After Germany Sergeant Geary was assigned to protect the assistant division commander of Maneuver of 42nd ID in Tikrit Iraq and the area of operation of Task Force Liberty as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom from 2004-2005. Upon return home and completion of Warrior Leader Course Sergeant Geary deployed to Baghdad Iraq with 972nd Military Police Company. As a team leader and assistant convoy commander it was SGT Geary's mission to be lead truck for all convoy operations. The tour in Iraq spanned 2007-2008 and included SFC Geary leading the squad in over 100 combat patrols, quick reaction force missions, and static site security with foot patrols at Former Prime Minister of Iraq Dr Allawi's Baghdad residence. After the tour SFC Geary again went to the NCO Academy completing training and took a position as a Squad leader in the 747 Military Police company with whom he deployed to Iraq with in 2009 through 2010. SFC Geary ran a squad of Military Police on a Police Transition Team aiding and assisting an Iraqi District Chief of Police and his staff operate and transfer battle space from US Forces to Iraqi Police command and control. After being home and going to the Advanced Leader Course at Fort Hunter Liggett in California where he received the Leadership Award as nominated by his peers and awarded by the Cadre he took over as Platoon Sergeant of a detachment of Military Police from Syracuse NY as a part of 27th IBCT BSTB. After a successful National Training Center Rotation with his Soldiers SFC Geary deployed to Kuwait for 2012 serving as Base Defense Operations Center NCO in charge and the head Military Police enlisted Soldier for the Base Camp Patriot as part of Kuwait Naval Base. An injury sent him to Fort Knox then West Point to be medically retired from the Army.

In December 2014, Sergeant First Class Geary retired from the Army with Army Achievement, Accommodations, expeditionary medals and his Combat Action Badge. HIs time in the service saw him lay to rest more Soldiers stateside due to Suicide, Overdose,  and rare Cancers from environmental exposers than it did from Combat tours of duty in Iraq. 

In addition to presiding as Founder of Hellfish Haven SFC Geary is also involved in several other Veteran Service Organizations serving as an officer elected in each of the following nonprofits and committees. Past Commander Post 93 American Legion, former service officer and Jr Vice Commander of VFW Post 529. DAV Chapter 25 working as the Adjutant/Treasurer. And was on the initial Veterans Service Advisory Committee for the town of Foxborough finishing as the Vice President of the Committee before starting to freelance his assistance and beginning the building blocks that would become Hellfish Haven. Watching the struggle many Veterans had and the loss of life of more of his fellow men and women who he had proudly served with had begun to take its toll on Mike and he knew something needed to be corrected.

He is an Honored part of the Patriots Hall of Fame with his good luck charm Pat the Patriot who helped his Soldiers return home while rooting for the New England Patriots over the decade which is proudly displayed in the Hall of Fame during Veterans Day each year. 

SFC Geary is married to the former Jaclyn M Hannify and received & trained Jose his service dog to assist with his healing at home and PTSD anxiety that he talks about openly to Silence the Stigma of seeking help for mental health and Suicidal Ideation in the Veteran Community. Michael and Jaclyn welcomed to the world Emilee their first daughter in the winter of 2021. The challenges of being a parent are a blessing and seeing the world through a childs eye can remind us of the innocence and sense of security that we strive to protect both in and out of uniform.

 SFC Geary has also volunteered with Team Rubicon during Covids onset assisting families in the city of Chelsea and Cambridge who were unable to secure food due to the pandemic. He started a Help in the Hometown program bringing snacks to local homeless shelters and hang outs to ensure between meal trucks they had food to enjoy. He worked as the community service coordinator for Team Red White & Blue Boston Chapter volunteering at the VA for game night. He also is a member of The Mission Continues Boston Platoon providing community service in the Greater Boston Area! Today Mike continues service to the Veterans in his area as a Member of the North Attleboro VFW. Mike also is a peer support specialist working with Military GMR Foundation to assist those in crisis.