The 25-year-old asked, "Mom, how do you get married in Pennsylvania with only a few days' notice?"
His mother, Brenda Kuhns, wasn't sure, but she made some phone calls and found out.
Soon after, the young soldier found himself experiencing a family reunion, wedding and honeymoon -- all within the span of five days.
"I left for Iraq in March," Fink said. "I was engaged to Crystal (Lawson) by that time, but we never planned a wedding date.
"Every one kept asking us why we didn't get married before I left," he said. "I wasn't really sure why."
He returned to his Manor Township home on Oct. 9. He married Crystal Lawson of Oklahoma on Oct. 12 at Grace Lutheran Church in Lancaster city.
On Monday, he and his new bride spent the afternoon getting ready for their honeymoon in Ocean City, Md.
Just hours before their departure, the young couple seemed incredibly relaxed.
They snuggled next to each other in the living room of his parents, Donald and Brenda Kuhns, as the family dog Bandit, sprinted around, looking for a lap to sit on.
"It was a small wedding with some family and friends," Mrs. Kuhns said. "I guess there were 35 to 40 people there."
Michael and Crystal described the weekend as a happy blur and said they'll enjoy every moment of their time together before they have to separate once again on Friday.
"That's when I go back to the base in Baltimore," Michael said. "It won't be easy, but I'm trying not to think about it too much right now."
The specialist -- soon to be a sergeant said some of his duties in Iraq include "picking up live rounds" outside Camp Dogwood's gates.
"I get scared," he said, "especially when I'm driving the convoy outside the camp. But I try to deal with it."
Michael said his few comforts in Iraq include watching movies and playing video games -- anything that provides an element of escape.
For his family back home, which includes 15-year-old brother Don and 21-year-old sister Courtney, comfort is just as hard to find.
"I still watch the news," said his father, who then pointed to his wife. "But she doesn't; it makes her nervous."
Mrs. Kuhns agreed.
"We hear a lot of stuff on the news," she said. "It just seems like every time you turn the TV on, someone's dead."
Otherwise, Mrs. Kuhns said she's noticed a change in coverage of the war.
"You don't hear as much on the news now," she said. "But if you have family over there, you're still as nervous as ever... nothing's changed. People without family in the service aren't as involved right now."
Mrs. Kuhns said she and her husband attended a Sept. 11 ceremony that honored the soldiers stationed in Iraq.
"That was nice," she said. "A lot of people with family in the military were there."
Crystal, who works at a credit union in Oklahoma, said she handles the worry in her own way.
"As long as he calls once a week, I'm OK," she said. "But sometimes he doesn't because he's not near a phone or whatever. That's when I get on the phone with his mom and freak out."
Michael said he and a friend recently invested in a satellite phone, hoping that it will make it easier to reach their families -- no matter where they are.
"We haven't used them yet," he said, "so we'll see how that works out."
When asked why he enlisted in the Army in the first place, Michael said he really wasn't sure.
"He was going to school at (York Technical Institute) and worked for a couple of years," his father said. "I think he burnt himself out."
Michael said he's learned a lot as an enlisted man.
"It was all good -- until I left in March," he said.
He and Crystal held hands.
"They say I can come home in March (2004)," Michael said. "In six months we'll be good."
When he comes home for good, the couple said they will start making definite plans for the future.
"Does that mean grandbabies?" Mrs. Kuhns asked.
Mr. Kuhns groaned. The couple laughed.
"When Michael leaves again, it won't be good," Kuhns said, "but we'll get through it."
Her husband nodded.
"I just want all the guys and girls over there to come home safe," he said. "That's all."
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