Michael D. Wyatt
Born October 18, 1949
Draft Lottery #5 – the only lottery he nearly won.
Michael answered the call and served his country from March 9, 1970, to November 8, 1971. Upon completing Basic Training at Fort Lewis, Washington, he was assigned to US Army Overseas Replacement Station (WODLAA) Oakland Army Base in Oakland, California for further assignment that resulted in his assignment to the US Army Republic of Vietnam Transit Detachment (WOBRAA). He was a “Screaming Eagle” in the Army’s 101st Airborne Division, serving n Vietnam from August 7, 1970, to August 6, 1971. After his tour in Vietnam, he returned to the United States and was stationed at Fort Carson in Colorado.
Michael D. Wyatt earned the Bronze Star with the “V” device on 3 occasions. He also received the Vietnam Campaign Medal, and an Army Commendation Medal.
He never spoke much about his service, so we know little about his time served. We know that initially he was stationed at a firebase, that he requested transfer to an Aerial Rifle Platoon to serve as a Scout and Gunner, and that he participated in ground reconnaissance missions behind enemy lines during combat operations. Traveling into Laos, much of his time was up North in the jungle near the DMZ in Vietnam’s Thua Thien Province. Military documents we have attest to his bravery and devotion to duty – “All the Way, Airborne!”
To keep him occupied while on base at Fort Carson, he was put in charge of tanks. He knew nothing about tanks but was assigned that duty due to his rank.
Also, while at Fort Carson he participated in and won the race up the rail cog line to the top of Pike’s Peak. He later told his son that the key to winning the race was to never stop or never sit down.
After his discharge, he settled in Nebraska in 1974 where he married Tonia Martens and together, they raised 3 sons: Jacob Alan, Jared Dean, and John Michael. He had 8 grandchildren (5 grandsons and 3 granddaughters).
