Home / KIA Names & Memorial Pages / Remembrances / Comrades Contact List / Deceased after Vietnam / Photogalleries

DON LESLIE MICHAEL - Killed in Action April 8, 1967 MOH Recipient

Don Leslie Michael

DON LESLIE MICHAEL

Next of Kin - Department of Defense Press Release - Click here to view -  C Co (CMH), SP4, age 19, ALABAMA sp4 Don L MICHAEL, son of Mr., and Mrs , Roy O. MICHAEL, Route #3, Lexington, AL (Mothers name Vernicille (Fincher-Maiden Name)

Burial:
Mount Pleasant Baptist Church (Lexington)
Lexington
Lauderdale County
Alabama, USA


Vietnam War Congressional Medal of Honor recipient. He served as a Specialist Fourth Class (Rifleman) in the US Army in Company C, 4th Battalion, 503rd Infantry, 173d Airborne Brigade. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for action in the Republic of Vietnam on April 8, 1967. He was KILLED IN ACTION. His citation reads in part "Undaunted, Sp4c Michael made his way back to the friendly positions to obtain more grenades. With two grenades in hand, he again started his perilous move towards the enemy bunker, which by this time was under intense artillery fire from friendly positions. As he neared the bunker, an enemy soldier attacked him from a concealed position. Sp4c Michael killed him with his rifle and, in spite of the enemy fire and the exploding artillery rounds, was successful in destroying the enemy positions. Sp4c Michael took up in pursuit of the remnants of the retreating enemy. When his comrades reached Sp4c. Michael, he had been mortally wounded. His inspiring display of determination and courage saved the lives of many of his comrades and successfully eliminated a destructive enemy force." 

SP4 - E4 - Army - Regular
173rd Airborne Brigade
His tour began on Jun 6, 1966
Casualty was on Apr 8, 1967
In TAY NINH, SOUTH VIETNAM
HOSTILE, GROUND CASUALTY
GUN, SMALL ARMS FIRE
Panel 17E - Line 125

 

Medal of Honor Citation
DON LESLIE  MICHAEL
Specialist Fourth Class, U.S. Army
Company C, 4th Battalion, 503d Infantry, 1 73d Airborne Brigade.
Place and Date: Republic of Vietnam, 8 April 1967.
Entered Service at: Montgomery, Ala.Born :31 July 1947, Florence, Ala.
 

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Sp4c. Michael, U.S. Army, distinguished himself while serving with Company C. Sp4c. Michael was part of a platoon which was moving through an area of suspected enemy activity. While the rest of the platoon stopped to provide security, the squad to which Sp4c. Michael was assigned moved forward to investigate signs of recent enemy activity. After moving approximately 125 meters, the squad encountered a single Viet Cong soldier. When he was fired upon by the squad's machine gunner, other Viet Cong opened fire with automatic weapons from a well-concealed bunker to the squad's right front. The volume of enemy fire was so withering as to pin down the entire squad and halt all forward movement. Realizing the gravity of the situation, Sp4c. Michael exposed himself to throw 2 grenades, but failed to eliminate the enemy position. From his position on the left flank, Sp4c. Michael maneuvered forward with 2 more grenades until he was within 20 meters of the enemy bunkers, when he again exposed himself to throw 2 grenades, which failed to detonate. Undaunted, Sp4c. Michael made his way back to the friendly positions to obtain more grenades. With 2 grenades in hand, he again started his perilous move towards the enemy bunker, which by this time was under intense artillery fire from friendly positions. As he neared the bunker, an enemy soldier attacked him from a concealed position. Sp4c. Michael killed him with his rifle and, in spite of the enemy fire and the exploding artillery rounds, was successful in destroying the enemy positions. Sp4c. Michael took up pursuit of the remnants of the retreating enemy. When his comrades reached Sp4c. Michael, he had been mortally wounded. His inspiring display of determination and courage saved the lives of many of his comrades and successfully eliminated a destructive enemy force. Sp4c. Michael's actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect the utmost credit upon himself and the U.S. Army.

ViewCombat Area Casualties Current File - Records on Military Personnel Who Died, Were Missing in Action or Prisoners of War as a Result of the Vietnam War - Click here to view File

ViewThe Coffelt Database - Records with Unit Information on Military Personnel Who Died During the Vietnam War - Click here to view File

Click here to view Virtual Wall and messages left

Click here to view info on findagrave.com

Don Leslie Michael

LEAVE A MEMORIAL MESSAGE HERE

It's not always possible to visit your comrade's grave, so here's the perfect solution! Simply fill out the form below to leave a message on his virtual Memorial. When available, we will post a photo of his grave here. We will also post your message on the Wall.

Family/Friends Contact Information will be posted here, if known.

(Would like to have Burial/Cemetery Information, Photo of Grave, and old photos/memorabilia posted - if not posted here, and you have something to send in, please send to squinn9807@aol.com )

Your Name
Your Address
Your City, State and Zip
Your Email Address
Your Phone Number
Name of the person the MEMORIAL MESSAGE is being left for:
Message

MEMORIAL MESSAGES

Michael Strange (Message from the Wall)
mstrange@salinecounty.net
buddy and alive because he died
7037 red oak, benton, ar 72015 saline
my buddy
I have your CMH award over my desk and I think about you most every day. I still carry guilt because I'm alive and you aren't. I'll see you again and we will talk about when we were young.
Thursday, February 10, 2005
``````````````````````````````````````````````````````
bobby mcguire (Message from the Wall)
little league coach in AL
I coached don in little league baseball in lexington and found him to be a determined young man of high moral character and a wonderful person.bobby mcguire
Wednesday, July 04, 2001
`````````````````````````````````````````````````````````

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

List of Memorial Pages Below. Click on persons name to view their Memorial Page.
 
DIED BEFORE DEPLOYMENT TO VIETNAM (3) in 1966

Gasbarra, Robert A; PFC; Medic, HHC

Knight, Larry H, B Co; PFC,

Palmer, Larry P, PFC; Medic, HHC

 

KIA July 27, 1966
Joseph Francis Hunt, C Co,
Joe David Kegley, C Co,
Carlos David Moore, Medic, C Co,
James Larry McCrystal, C Co,
Melvin Warren McDowell, C Co,  
Jerry L Schemel, C Co,  
 
August 14, 1966
Daryl Raymond Corfman, A Co,
 
August 23, 1966
Rayfon Lofton, B Co,
 
September 15, 1966
Joseph Lloyd Miller, C Co,
 
September 16, 1966
Edward Garry Rankin, A Co,
 
October 24, 1966
George Belanger, C Co,
 
October 29, 1966
Thomas Respress, B Co,
 
October 31, 1966
Eleftherios Pantel Pappas, B Co,
 
January 11, 1967
Eugene Cabbegestalk, C Co,
 
January 14, 1967
Lonnie Allen Floyd, C Co,
 
January 15, 1967
Frank Howard Laskin, D Co,
John R. Prince, D Co,
 
January 16, 1967
Mario Ramirez, D Co,
Frank Lee Smith, B Co,
Arthur Wayne Wilkie, B Co,
Jerome Vincent Zerfass, B Co,
 
January 22, 1967
Ronald Lynn Pendergist, A Co,
 
March 6, 1967
Ronald Wayne Lyerly, A Co,
 
March 7, 1967
Bennie Lee Cross, D Co,
Charles F. Kennedy, D Co,
James Kelly Keith, III, B Co,
 
March 9, 1967
Gerald Edward Bartram, Medic, B Co,
Freddie Lynn Friar, B Co,
Willis Lee Furney, B Co,
 
March 26, 1967
Ivy Thomas Anderson, A Co,
John Henry James, Jr, A Co,
                              
March 27, 1967
David Allen Drown, C Co,
 
March 29, 1967
David Lewis Glasscock, C Co,
 
April 7, 1967
Henry Hwey Gamble, B Co,
Ross Allen Gaston, B Co,    
Jerry Robert Miller, B Co,
Thomas Patterson, B Co,
 
April 8, 1967
Don Leslie Michael, C Co
Higinio Ovalle Oviedo, C Co,
 
May 14, 1967
Joseph L.Duckett, Jr, C Co,
             
May 17, 1967
Winfree Alderman, C Co,
Edward Oran Claeys, C Co,
George Ray Edwards, C Co,
Steven Michael Haniotes, C Co,
William Coy Turner, C Co,
 
May 20, 1967
David Lee Fennessey, D Co,
Gerald Charles Hague, B Co,
Norman Perry Howie, Jr, C Co,           
David Joseph Johnson, C Co,
 
May 22, 1967
Samuel Proctor, Jr, B Co,
 
 
KIA June 1966 - June 1967
from 4/503d = 51 
A Co =    7,  B Co =  16, C Co =  22, D Co =    6

 

KIA AFTER JUNE 1967 (14)

Acosta, John Wayne, C Co;

Bamvakais, John, D Co; 

Beach, Myron, PSG, A Co,

Crozier, David, HHC & D;

English, Glenn, HHC; KIA

Huggins, Daniel F.(aka 'Lightning'), B Co.,

Klossek, Gerald (Gerry); C Co;

Laird, Richard F, HHC,

Rabel, Laszlo; A & D Co; With 173d until KIA

Retzlaff, Skip, LT; FO, 3/319; with B Co,

Spencer, Dan E., A Co;

Spier, Harry, B Co;

Weaver, --, Sgt, --- Co;

Williams, Walter D, Major, HHC; S3;