PFC Michael Alexander Lackner, Deer Park, NY on www.VirtualWall.org The Virtual Wall® Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall

July 15, 2017

Senior Prom

Memorial Day
Monday, May 28, 2018

Memorial Day. So many we must honor. I honor all who gave all but today I'll show you Michael Lackner, because he was my neighbor and his death touched me personally. I was just a little kid. 1969. My memories of Mike are blurred through time. But I do recall him and his brother Steven wrestling on the front lawn with Mike many times. My very last memory of Mike was of him walking down Lake Ave at 9th in his field jacket I think, not sure, on leave just before he shipped out to Pendleton and to Nam. Probably winter or early spring. I see him on a rainy, drizzly day. Walking with a purpose. 3rd phase haircut. That was it. Then, on a nice summer afternoon around 3 pm, just a day or two before Neil Armstrong landed on the moon, two Marines came walking up the driveway. My little brother Michael, AKA Newman, and I were drying off after an afternoon in the pool. The Marines had their heads down, donning the USMC Dress Blue Charlie's as I recall. A somber, serious, all business walk. One they clearly dreaded. I watched in stunned silence. It was just seconds between seeing them and them knocking at the far side door. Half way up the driveway I whispered with dreaded certainty to my little 5 or 6 year old brother Michael, "Something happened to Michael." Then we ran as though gliding, floating, down to the street where the fence ended and looked back at the house. Within seconds we heard a loud scream of horror. It was Peggy. Snoot. Michaels 18 or 19 year old sister, who was home alone. She had just born the horrific incoming on her own. She screamed and wailed, "No! No! No! " as she exited the door and saw me and my little bother Michael at the fence. "Jimmy!!! she screamed, falling, almost crawling... "Jimmy! Get your mother! Michaels dead!"... And her screams and cries continued as I bolted at whiplash speed to my kitchen door and burst inside where I saw my mother's strained, curious face. I think she overheard just enough to make her concerned but not certain of what she'd heard until I conformed it hysterically. "Ma! Michael Lackner got killed!" I uttered as though I were the dreaded messenger of bad news. My mother drew backward, almost falling down. The strain on her face went from dreaded fear to horrific and unwanted acknowledgement. "What? What? What are you talking about? Why? What?" Words to that affect as she struggled to accept what her little 11 year old son was telling her. In her eyes, her mind, I saw a woman hoping to find that her child was somehow screwing this up. But combine my message to her with the screams of Peggy as Peggy came closer and closer to our side door wailing and crying, dragging herself across the lawn, and my mother soon saw that the horrific news was true. She saw Peggy accompanied by the Marines in full blown trajic drama coming to our door. Half crawling as the Marines tried to lift her. Then my mother exploded in tears. It was a scene of utter chaos for an 11 year old boy who was watching the Mets get their butts kicked just before they turned the season around into the Miracle Mets. It was a child who was watching Apollo 11 traverse the world to land on the moon. A kid who was just swimming and playing ball and hoping to get ice cream later from Mr Softee when suddenly there was death at the door. Death. Horror. Nightmare inducing, youthful, unexpected, tragic, shocking death! Death that little kids don't expect to deal with. Yet here it was. At my door. Now the rest of the day was as dramatic and horrific as what you've heard here with the Marines sitting at my kitchen table waiting for the parents to get home from work around 6pm. How my father tried to keep everyone composed and plan the inevitable breaking of the bad news to the parents with the two Marines. It was a long 2 hours. Maybe 3. Suffice it to say the horror of Michael Lackners sacrifice affected everyone on my block for some time. I could go on and on about how this touched my mother in a unique way. My brother Stevie was serving in the Marine Corps when this occurred. My family had to endure Stevies 13 month deployment, having seen Michael in his open casket in his dress blues, hermetically sealed as it was, knowing that Stevie was serving where Michael had been killed. I know how it affected me. It made me as an 11 year old kid, a basket case. The day my brother returned, when I awoke and he was sitting in a chair next to my bed in his uniform... I breathed a sigh of relief that I've never since experienced. Having digressed, let me say this. Michael received the Bronze Star for his actions where he ran back into fields of fierce enemy Fire to rescue his fellow Marines. He sacrificed all. His life ended before it began. And these are the Warriors that we salute and remember on. Memorial Day. Michael is just one hero that I am recalling this Memorial Day.

God bless.

Semper Fi Mike!

Jimmy McEvoy

Born to Barbara and Alexander J Lackner in Manhattan, New York, Michael grew up in the New York area, graduating from Deer Park High School in June of 1968.

He enlisted in the Marine Corps September 9, 1968 at Ft. Hamilton, New York. He underwent recruit training at Parris Island, South Carolina in September and November 1968.

He was sent to SOI at Camp Lejeune and remained there until January 21, 1969 when he was sent to 1st Replacement Company, Camp Pendelton in preparation for overseas deployment to Vietnam.

He arrived in country on 19 March 1969 and was assigned to F Company, 2nd Battalion 1st Marines 1st Marine Division. Almost four months to the day, after his arrival in country, he was killed in action.

Three (3) men from F Company were killed approximately 5 Kilometers West Northwest of Dien Ban, South Vietnam. The company was en route to form a company size cordon of the area when they received hostile mortar fire, small arms fire, along with Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) rounds when they encountered a hostile enemy force. All 3 men died as a result of their fragmentation wounds. They were:

LCpl Paul Joseph Bragg, Omaha, Nebraska
LCpl Timothy Gene Carter, Ely, Nevada
PFC Michael Alexander Lackner, Deer Park, New York

1967 - photo booth outside
Deer Park, NY movie theater.

Mike & Liz outside his home June 1968 DPHS Graduation

Boot Camp Fall 1968, MCRD, Parris Island SC

Basic Training Graduation Fall 1968, MCRD, Parris Island SC
with maternal Grandpa Roth and his wife "Aunt" Dot (Mike's Mom's step Mom).

Michael & Liz on 12-25-1968, day of engagement, in Deer Park

Regarding the 1st ReplCo, StagBn, MCB CamPend training, 2/24/69, where the REASON and Primary Duty says: UA (AWOL) on Mike's Record of Service. Mike had off the weekend and risked flying home to Deer Park. He surprised his family and me (shocked us). He came home early on 2/21/69 to ask me to marry him before he went to VN.

My birthday was the end of February, and he said since I was turning 18, I was old enough to decide to get married. It was our plan to get married after he returned from VN. Both families advised us to wait so I could finish high school. Mike's parents were nervous that he chanced coming home, as he would be late for the next training class at Camp Pendleton. He said he had 3 days but could take a week, if he got married. He did not pressure me and accepted the decision to wait to get married. Mike never told me he got that "UA", and I did not find out until over 40 years after he was killed. I believe he had to make up a few days by repeating part or all of the class he was late for on 2/24/69.

One reason I REMEMBER Mike with remembrances is because, as a young girl, I vowed to purposely remember him forever because we never got our chance to take wedding vows. At my wedding 2 1/2 years after Mike's death, his parents and siblings attended. At that time I promised Mike's Mom that I will always love and remember her son. I join his military Marine brothers and promise to remember, honor, and love him all the days of our lives.

All of his Unit Assignments. Michael began his tour on 19 March 1969

Mike in VietNam 2 days before he was killed (arrow points to Mike).

News of Michael's Death along
with PFC Thomas S. Bonventre

Notice of Award of Michael's Bronze Star
and Purple Heart to LCpl Howard T. Lenhard

PFC Lackner was survived by his mother Barbara Marie (Roth) (1932-1994) Lackner, father Alexander Julius Lackner, Jr (1920-1977), sister Margaret, and brother Steve. He was also survived by his maternal grandparents, Barbara K (Formes) Roth (abt 1900- ) Francis Clifton Roth (1903-1984) and paternal grandparents Mary Donodea Lackner (1895-1986) and Alexander Julius Lackner (1895-1977).

He is buried, along with his parents, and paternal grandparents, in Long Island National Cemetery, East Farmingdale, Suffolk County, New York. His maternal grandparents are buried in Greenlawn Memorial Park Cemetery, Wilmington, N.C.

- - The Virtual Wall, March 5, 2019

December 2018

50 years ago on 12-25-68, you asked my Dad for my hand in marriage. I nervously told mom why you needed to see Dad. Mom told Dad you had something to ask him. You and dad talked for a very long time, and I kept wondering why you two were taking forever.

That was my dad - the big socializer.

And that was you - gregarious, polite and respectful.

You stayed as long as Dad wanted to talk with you until Mom and I called you down to get on with Christmas Day celebrations. That's when you proposed with a beautiful diamond ring.

I cherish fond memories of our days back then.

Merry Christmas and Happy 2019 in heaven Mike.

Rest in Peace my young hero.

SEMPER FI!

Seg-a-Po, Liz

Last update 08/15/2019