The 35th Infantry Regiment Association salutes our fallen brother, SP4 Michael T. Ledebur, who died in the service of his country on August 2nd, 1966 in Pleiku Province, Vietnam. The cause of death was listed as Small Arms/AW. At the time of his death Michael was 22 years of age. He was from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Michael is honored on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial at Panel 09E, Line 99.

The decorations earned by SP4 Michael T. Ledebur include: the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal and the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm Unit Citation.

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Mike is buried at:
Montecito Memorial Park
24145 Barton Road
Loma Linda, CA

(Following information supplied by high school classmate Sherry Brown whom also graciously supplied Mike’s picture. Sherry and Mike graduated in 1962 from Brookfield Central High School, Brookfield, WI.)

At the beginning of his junior year, Mike transferred from Milwaukee Lutheran High School to Brookfield Central, in the western suburbs of Milwaukee. I noticed him his first day at school because he was in my English class and study hall………..And being a girl, I also noticed that he was good looking and had the most beautiful blue eyes.

But the best part was that Mike was a genuinely nice guy; no put-ons, no conceit. He was someone the other kids respected. He was pretty laid back and notorious for his dry sense of humor. Sometimes Mike seemed lost in thought and quite introspective, other times you might catch him on his way to a friend’s house to stir up some mischief.

Mike had ink in his veins. He was into writing and journalism, and he worked as a staff writer for our school newspaper, “Lancer Hi-Lites.” His writing was good; I think he would have made a great journalist someday. And he was an inspiration for me to continue on with my own writing.

Mike was a member of the Future Business Leaders of America, and an active member in our school’s Key Club. The guys in Key Club ministered to those less fortunate. They often picked up children from a local children’s home and brought them to our football and basketball games, which the kids loved. Throughout the year the club ran food drives and delivered food to the needy, including Thanksgiving and Christmas baskets. Mike was in his element there.

After graduation, Mike was headed for the University of Wisconsin at Whitewater. But he was drafted before he earned his degree, and he died just two months after his 22nd birthday. Mike’s life….and death…touched a lot of lives, including mine. I just wish I could have known him longer.