| His first tour in Nam was spent in Plei Ku. He was a 2nd
Lieutenant
assigned to the 167th Signal Corps. He was befriended by a group of
Laotian Montagnards that had a reputation of being fierce fighters.
They gave him a protective bracelet which guaranteed safe passage
throughout southeast Asia in case he ever got shot down.
He returned to the US with the intentions of becoming an aviator. He was denied for not meeting the height requirements. Somehow, Mike convinced the Surgeon General's office to measure him again with boots on. After stuffing his boots with the Sunday paper, Mike was able to pass the physical height requirements and attended rotary wing training. He graduated in 1968 and was off to Nam for another 12 month tour. This time he would be flying CH 47 Chinooks and UH-1 Huey's transporting supplies and evacuating ground troops. Mike was a determined, brave, confidant and capable man. We'll never know how many lives were saved because of a Sunday Newspaper!
Captain Michael Medeiros was awarded the Bronze Star and 3 Purple Hearts. We never knew that until after his death. We hope to find the details out someday. He was and still is ....my hero!
Those were rough times for our soldiers. They were putting their lives on the line everyday for US and the people at home were calling them baby killers. My brother was truly a hero! He risked his life daily so others could live. I'll never get over the sadness I feel when I think about the welcome home they received. That's something Americans should feel remorse about for the rest of their lives.
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