DOB/DOD: March 14, 1947 (Brooklyn, New York) –
MARITAL STATUS: Married Brenda Ely (1941-), in Sarasota, Florida
CHILDREN: Three daughters, Lauren, Deidre, and Karen.
LOCAL ADDRESS: 9 Roland Avenue, East Norwalk
ENLISTMENT: August 1967
MOS: 11B; Infantryman
UNIT: 11th Armored Cavalry
FAMILY: Paul J. (1917-2007) and Elsie Sanukewich Michitsch (1917-1985). One sister, Larraine (1948-2012). One brother, Kenneth (1945-).
CIRCUMSTANCES: Wounded in Action in Cu Chi, Vietnam
PERSONAL TESTIMONY:
It was several months after the Tet Offensive, and the enemy was beginning to become very active again. It was at the beginning of May 1968 when my unit, the 11th Armored Cavalry Unit, was sent to Cu Chi to assist the ARVN soldiers with clearing out some of the enemy strongholds. We came upon a section of jungle where it was thought that the enemy was holding up and working operations from, so the Air Force sent in some fighter jets to “soften” up the area. The ARVN soldiers set up a blocking force on each side of this area, and our personnel carriers (ACAV) lined up about 100 meters apart. And we started to sweep through this area when the personnel carrier to our right came over the radio, saying that it had been hit by an RPG. We went over and pulled in front of the damaged carrier, and at that time, we were also struck by an RPG. It came in right in front of the driver, but he was up on top of the carrier assisting with reloading the 50 caliber machine gun, so the brunt of the incoming blast went right across both of my feet, causing a traumatic partial amputation on my right foot and severe damage to the lower extremities of my left foot. I jumped out of the carrier and immediately realized that I was unable to walk. My Track Commander, who was also now on the ground, saw this and rescued me by carrying me back to a safe position. I was shortly picked up by a medevac and brought back to Saigon, to the Air Force hospital there, and sent to Japan and then home after surgery on both feet. I was later awarded the Purple Heart and permanently retired from the Army.
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Honor Norwalk CT veterans 