PFC Ronald Albert Michaud was awarded the Silver Star the day prior to his death for action against the enemy where 6 other men from his unit were killed in action. The MACV entry for the event simply states: NorthEast of Phu My, from 0955 to 2400 hours, 1st Cav Div Company engaged enemy force. 32 enemy killed; 6 U.S. KIA while the Coffelt Database lists the group event as: ALONG HWY 505, EAST SIDE OF NUI MIEU HILL MASS 15 KM NE OF PHU MY 19670619. There were two Silver Stars awarded on June 19. Both citations provide further description of events that took place that day. The first award to SSG Lawrence Ray Lasiter was awarded by Headquarters, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile), in General Order 4616, dated August 14, 1967. It reads, in part, as: "...When his squad came under intense hostile fire from a large Viet Cong force, Sergeant Lasiter immediately moved his men and a platoon of tanks forward to suppress the enemy fire. In the ensuing battle, he personally directed the retaliatory fire of his men while repeatedly exposing himself to enemy small arms and machine gun fire. While moving through the fire-swept area to reach a wounded comrade, Sergeant Lasiter was mortally wounded by the intense enemy fire..." The 6 men killed during this day's enemy contact were: B Company, 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry SP4 Raymond Willard Godwin, Pomona, Illinois SSG Lawrence Ray Lasiter, Lawton, Oklahoma PFC Steven Richard Miller, Preston, Minnesota PFC Ignacio Portugal, Jr, Norwalk, California SP4 Frederick Willi Schaeffer, San Diego, California SP4 Kaazimierz Henryk Slomiany, Wallington, New Jersey PFC Michaud's Silver star citation provides the rest of his story of a two day enemy contact. His Silver Star was awarded by Headquarters, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile), in General Order 5963, dated September 29, 1967 and reads: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918 (amended by an act of July 25, 1963), takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Private First Class Ronald Albert Michaud (ASN: US-56455752), United States Army, for gallantry in action. Private First Class Michaud distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous action on 19 June 1967 while serving as a rifleman with Company B, 2d Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile), during a search and destroy mission near Nui Mieu Mountain, in the Republic of Vietnam. When two platoons of the company became pinned down by intense enemy automatic weapons fire, Private First Class Michaud's platoon was quickly air lifted into the area. Upon joining the beleaguered unit, his platoon also came under heavy enemy fire from a row of well-fortified bunkers. All attempts to assault the bunkers were halted due to the intense hostile fire. Private First Class Michaud, seeing his fellow soldiers pinned down with several wounded men, charged one of the bunkers. Despite the heavy volume of enemy fire, he reached the bunker, and killed the enemy soldiers inside. Private First Class Michaud continued to apply relentless pressure on the enemy throughout the day until contact was broken late in the evening. The following day the company again established contact with the enemy however, during the fighting, Private First Class Michaud was mortally wounded. Private First Class Michaud's display of personal bravery and devotion to duty was in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflects great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army. Three other men from the 1st Cavalry Division were killed on June 19 and one (McComas) was listed in the same group as the 6 men above from the 2nd of the 5th Cav, but it is likely he was not killed in the same location or event as they were. His record states he was killed by a sniper during a minesweep operation. The names of the other three 1st Cavalry Division men killed on the 19th of June, 1967 are: PFC Hobart Wilson McComas, B Company, 8th Engineers, (Sniper fire during minesweep operation), Columbus Ohio PFC Donald Durwood Morris, A Company, 2nd Bn, 7th Cav (Defective Grenade Phan Thiet) Houston, Texas SP4 Ronald Gale Trogdon, 15th Medical Battalion (Hit in LZ during Medevac Near Bong Son), Asheboro, North Carolina PFC Ronald Albert Michaud, during the next day's enemy contact was killed by American artillerty 'short' round fragments. He was survived by his wife, Patricia Rouse (nee, Schintgen), his parents, Eleanor J (1919-2010) and William A Michaud and his sisters Bev, Dianne, and Barbara. He was predeceased by a brother. PFC Michaud is buried in Saint Anthony Cemetery, Niagara, Marinette County, Wisconsin. His mother and brother are buried in Iron Mountain Cemetery Park, Iron Mountain, Dickinson County, Michigan - - The Virtual Wall, March 19, 2016

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