TV-Series
Description
Micky Simon is an American pilot who becomes a mercenary at the desert airbase Area 88, having signed on to fight for the Asranian government in its civil war. He is a former United States Navy aviator and a veteran of the Vietnam War, during which he served with VF-96 Fighting Falcons aboard the USS Enterprise in the television series and with VF-33 Starfighters in the original video animation. A graduate of the Annapolis Naval Academy, Simon came from a wealthy family background and had a fiancée waiting for him at home. However, the psychological toll of his wartime experiences left him unable to readjust to a normal, peaceful life, and he voluntarily enlisted as a foreign mercenary.
Simon carries deep psychological scars from his service in Vietnam. He was involved in an incident where a village was burned and its inhabitants killed because of an infectious disease outbreak that prevented the delivery of vaccines. He carried out the operation alone to spare his subordinates, but the memory haunts him, and he regards the nickname Fireball, earned from this event, as a source of deep personal disgrace. This traumatic past weighs heavily on him and drives his ongoing struggle to find a place in civilian society, which in turn fuels his commitment to life at Area 88.
At the base, Simon is known for his bright and outgoing personality, often acting as a mood maker among the pilots. He takes the initiative to organize social gatherings, such as parties for American national holidays, and his presence lightens the grim atmosphere of the mercenary camp. Despite his cheerful exterior, he is a highly capable and serious combat pilot. He considers himself the number-two pilot at Area 88, ranked behind Shin Kazama in the number of enemy aircraft shot down. His skills in air-to-air combat are exceptional, though his performance in ground attack is somewhat weaker. His personal aircraft bears a rabbit head insignia reminiscent of the Playboy bunny, and his preferred fighter is the F-14 Tomcat, which he considers the aircraft he likes the most.
Simon is Shin Kazama's closest friend at Area 88, and their relationship evolves from initial friction into a deep and abiding trust. They come to rely on each other completely in battle, willing to leave their backs to one another in combat. Simon also forms a complex bond with McBurn, a fellow veteran from the Vietnam War who belongs to Project 4. The two knew each other during the war, and while McBurn envied Simon's respected status, Simon in turn envied McBurn's subsequent assignment to the Blue Angels. Their reunion in the Asranian conflict leads to a sympathetic understanding of each other's circumstances, though they ultimately face each other as adversaries.
Simon demonstrates strong leadership qualities. In the absence of the base commander, Lieutenant Colonel Saki Vashtar, he often acts as squadron commander. When the capital of Aslan falls to Project 4, Simon takes charge, negotiating with Saki on behalf of the pilots and requesting permission for them to escape, earning the confidence of his fellow mercenaries. Beyond his combat leadership, he also shows personal compassion. He donates blood to Saki's younger brother Richard during a surgery, as they share the same blood type. His ultimate fate is a tragic one: during a final sortie, his F-14 Tomcat is hit in battle with McBurn, and the aircraft explodes. Sera rushes to his side, but Simon is already unconscious and dies in the explosion.
Simon carries deep psychological scars from his service in Vietnam. He was involved in an incident where a village was burned and its inhabitants killed because of an infectious disease outbreak that prevented the delivery of vaccines. He carried out the operation alone to spare his subordinates, but the memory haunts him, and he regards the nickname Fireball, earned from this event, as a source of deep personal disgrace. This traumatic past weighs heavily on him and drives his ongoing struggle to find a place in civilian society, which in turn fuels his commitment to life at Area 88.
At the base, Simon is known for his bright and outgoing personality, often acting as a mood maker among the pilots. He takes the initiative to organize social gatherings, such as parties for American national holidays, and his presence lightens the grim atmosphere of the mercenary camp. Despite his cheerful exterior, he is a highly capable and serious combat pilot. He considers himself the number-two pilot at Area 88, ranked behind Shin Kazama in the number of enemy aircraft shot down. His skills in air-to-air combat are exceptional, though his performance in ground attack is somewhat weaker. His personal aircraft bears a rabbit head insignia reminiscent of the Playboy bunny, and his preferred fighter is the F-14 Tomcat, which he considers the aircraft he likes the most.
Simon is Shin Kazama's closest friend at Area 88, and their relationship evolves from initial friction into a deep and abiding trust. They come to rely on each other completely in battle, willing to leave their backs to one another in combat. Simon also forms a complex bond with McBurn, a fellow veteran from the Vietnam War who belongs to Project 4. The two knew each other during the war, and while McBurn envied Simon's respected status, Simon in turn envied McBurn's subsequent assignment to the Blue Angels. Their reunion in the Asranian conflict leads to a sympathetic understanding of each other's circumstances, though they ultimately face each other as adversaries.
Simon demonstrates strong leadership qualities. In the absence of the base commander, Lieutenant Colonel Saki Vashtar, he often acts as squadron commander. When the capital of Aslan falls to Project 4, Simon takes charge, negotiating with Saki on behalf of the pilots and requesting permission for them to escape, earning the confidence of his fellow mercenaries. Beyond his combat leadership, he also shows personal compassion. He donates blood to Saki's younger brother Richard during a surgery, as they share the same blood type. His ultimate fate is a tragic one: during a final sortie, his F-14 Tomcat is hit in battle with McBurn, and the aircraft explodes. Sera rushes to his side, but Simon is already unconscious and dies in the explosion.