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Our classmate William Michael "Mike" Grammar was one of the early American casualties of the Vietnam conflict. He was killed on May 20, 1967 by small arms fire in Quang Tri while serving as an Advisor to the South Vietnamese government forces. He was survived by his wife, Patricia, and a son, Richard A. Grammar, his parents and two brothers. He had graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis in June of 1965.
The commendation for the award of the Silver Star to him stated as follows:
"The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Silver Star Medal (Posthumously) to William M. Grammar (0-91923), First Lieutenant, U.S. Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as Advisor, in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam on May 20, 1967. By his courage, aggressive fighting spirit and steadfast devotion to duty in the face of extreme personal danger, First Lieutenant Grammar upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country. Home Town: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma."
See the following link for more information on Mike Grammar:
http://marines.togetherweserved.com/usmc/servlet/tws.webapp.WebApps?cmd=ShadowBoxProfile&type=Person&ID=199812
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Terry Wyatt
I was in D.C. a few years back and found Mike's name carved in the black granite along with tens of thousands of others. I made a pencil etching of his name. So sad.Charles (Chuck) Nelson
My cousin Mike was the brother I never had! We lived life together even though I couldn't usually keep up with his level of scholastics and "partying". The night before he shipped out to Viet Nam we went to the Center Theatre to see Goldfinger with James Bond and afterword closed down the "Blue Note" bar after almost drinking it dry. The last thing he said to me was they would probably send him back in a box.He was very prophetic and and accepting of the hand that life dealt him. We should all celebrate the life he packed in his 25 years. The crowning victory for him was his son Richie and graduating from the US Naval Academy with honors. We will never know the contribution that he could have made if his life had not been ended so violently.
The only person that I ever saw that could somewhat control his "zest for life" was Cindy Anderson!He once admitted to me that he thought she "might" be smarter than him! Thanks Cindy!!