My brother, Kenneth Michael Otte, was born February 1, 1947. Mike was a very loveable kid, always laughing and kidding around. When he was very young, he would dress in our dad’s army cap and jacket. He was so small that the bottom of the jacket nearly touched the floor. He loved the idea of being a soldier.

When he was older, Mike played the drums and loved the music of the Beatles and Petula Clark. He also loved racing his ’58 Chevy at the local racetrack.

Mike volunteered for the Army and served in Vietnam with the Big Red One Infantry Division.

Mike was the type of person who always defended the kids who were being bullied. So, it was no surprise when we were told the story of when his unit leader asked for a volunteer to carry the M-60 machine gun. Mike raised his hand knowing that the life expectancy in the field for this position was approximately two minutes.

According to Mike’s sergeant, the day he died his unit was on patrol with Mike walking point. Mike stepped on a claymore mine and two different medics tried to get him to safety, but hand grenades were thrown in on them. One medic died and one lost a limb. Eventually, Mike was flown to a mash unit where he died during surgery on January 16, 1967, just two weeks before his 20th birthday.

During his graveside service, on a cold winter day in Nebraska, we heard a very loud clap of thunder which is very unusual at that time of year. Our family and friends believed it to be a final tribute to a life well lived.

A few months after the funeral our parents, Harold and Betty Otte of Valley, NE, were presented the Purple Heart and Bronze Star for meritorious valor during combat.