We have been learning about Mike Lamfers, who grew up east of Amiret and, after graduating from Tracy High School in 1965, served with the Marines in Vietnam.

Mike deployed to Vietnam in October 1966, joining the Commo Platoon of 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment near the demilitarized zone (DMZ) between North and South Vietnam. They returned to the DMZ in March 1967, where Mike was promoted to Sergeant. They left again to relative security at Phu Bai, but Mike explained they did not stay.

“The longest I was anyplace in Vietnam was about six weeks. We moved to Camp Evans, inland from Danang. Camp Evans was a whole different situation. You had to take your rifle to lunch. It was monsoon season and it was all wet.”

Mike was detailed to a forward position in the jungle.

“We were in the boonies for three weeks. We were on a river, so we could take a bath. It was a pretty secure area, but we sat perimeter every night. We had a couple mortar attacks, but they didn’t hit us. Then we came back to Camp Evans.”

Mike’s section received a new chief, a lieutenant, and a new mission.

“We started running convoys west to the A Shau Valley. I drove a comm Jeep. The Lieutenant and I didn’t see eye-to-eye. Once we got ambushed when they hit the lead truck. We were on a jungle (road) with a three-four foot berm on each side. We were under small arms fire behind that dirt. He had a pistol and I had my M-16. He told me to give him my rifle and I said, “No” three times – not very politely. They called an airstrike and dropped napalm. You could hear that canister coming, “Whoop, whoop, whoop.” It was close and you could feel the heat. That’s the only time I saw napalm used.”

Mike’s unit returned to Phu Bai where Mike got in hot water.

“I had five-six weeks left. Four of us took Jeeps and went to a Green Beret Club – not a good decision. (Mike laughed) We survived. We’d had too many drinks and I took a short-cut across an airstrip. The MP’s came with flashing blue lights. I was senior and the one driving, so I’m going up for Office Hours, like going to court. They were going to skip battalion and go right to regimental Office Hours. I know I’m probably going to come back less than a Sergeant.”

One of Mike’s sergeants found an alternative. Two rifle companies were deploying near the DMZ for airstrip security. He explained the deal to Mike.

“Sergeant DeSarno came to me and said, ‘If you come there with Comm, I’ll get you out of these Office Hours.’ That was a no-brainer. We went to Quang Tri. I had a month left.”

Quang Tri was short duty for Mike, but came with dangers.

“We got to Quang Tri and had one little knoll where we were going to set up. It was a Vietnamese cemetery that was supposed to have been cleared. A new kid was digging in and he hit this 105 ammo box. It’s a small Vietnamese child. He came unglued. Sergeant DeSarno talked to him, but the young guy is just shaking his head. The Seabees moved in soon and built hardback hootches. It was close to the end, maybe a week, when they hit us with mortars. We lost seventeen medevac’d that night.”

The last week passed and Mike began his return.

“I went to Danang by convoy. We flew out of Danang. I’ve heard from others that everybody cheered. I don’t remember any cheering when we took off. It was quiet – almost solemn. It was just a relief to get out of there.”

Mike’s flight to the States arrived at a Marine Corps Air Station.

“When we got back in November of ’67, they told us to get rid of our uniforms. I had over a year to go, so I couldn’t do that. When we got off base to catch buses they were waiting by the fences. We got spit at. It wasn’t a good time to be leaving.”

Mike completed his enlistment at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina and returned to farm near Amiret. He felt welcomed, but also felt lingering effects from his Vietnam service.

“Around here it felt okay being a Vietnam vet, but I had things to deal with afterwards that took a long time. There are still things that I don’t share. I was at Disney World in the late ’80’s and walked into Epcot Center. The second we walked in, it was like being in Vietnam – the smell and the humidity. I’ll never forget that. Until a few years ago, I didn’t have anything to do with fireworks. If we go to the Marshall fireworks there are a couple they set off where you’ll hear a “thump, thump.” When you hear that – that’s probably the hardest.”

He reflected on what he learned from his service.

“When I left for Vietnam I felt like we were going there for a purpose. That was satisfying. I found out during times I was in situations how you lived on adrenaline. You do things that you didn’t think you could do. (Mike chuckled) I probably had a little bit of trouble with authority. I questioned things.”

Thank you for your Vietnam service, Mike. Welcome home!

Please visit our new exhibit at the Lyon County Museum, The Vietnam War and Lyon County, to learn more about the experiences of our area Vietnam veterans.