The 35th Infantry Regiment Association salutes our fallen brother, SP4 Michael Todd 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 Todd Ledebur include: the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Bronze Star with V, 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.
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.
(His BSV Citation)
General Orders 169, Award of The Bronze Star Medal for Heroism, 3rd Brigade Task Force, 25th Division, 7 September 1966
For heroism in connection with military operations against a hostile force. Private First Class Ledebur distinguished himself by heroic actions when his unit became engaged by a numerically superior enemy force. Private First Class Ledebur, a member of the Battalion Recon platoon attached to A, 2/35th, was providing flank security for the main body while the unit conducted a search and destroy mission. When the unit became heavily engaged, Private First Class Ledebur's squad was given the mission of flanking the enemy force to the left. The squad moved forward and was immediately pinned down by enemy fire. The enemy then began to place effective mortar and heavy machine gun fire on the main body located in the center. Private First Class Ledebur and the members of his fire team, with complete disregard for their own safety, pushed forward under heavy small arms fire in an effort to out flank the enemy. The enemy immediately shifted a light machine gun to the fire team's front. As Private First Class Ledebur and his fire team crossed a small open area, the enemy machine gun began firing. In a desperate effort to eliminate the enemy gun, the five men of the fire team rushed forward and the machine gun was silenced. Private First Class Ledebur was mortally wounded during this heroic action. His outstanding and inspiring display of initiative, decisiveness, and personal bravery is in keeping with the highest standards of military service; and reflects great credit upon himself, his unit, and the armed forces of the United States.
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