Michael Lero BattStaff SergeantHQ COMPANY, USARV Army of the United States 30 May 1947 - 31 August 1978 Defiance, Ohio Panel 29W Line 050 |
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The database page for Michael Lero Batt
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All I wanted to say was
A memorial initiated by one who wore his MIA bracelet, |
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I too wore his bracelet for years and years.
E-Mail will be forwarded by the |
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I just wanted to say that I too wore his bracelet for a year, from April 02 to April 03. His bracelet was the first I ever wore. I was and am proud to have worn it every day for the entire year. I am currently on my third POW/MIA Heros Bracelet but Staff Sergeant Batt will always be remembered as my first Hero and his bracelet now hangs proudly in my house where it will remain in memorial until he is returned to US soil.
From one who wore his MIA Bracelet, |
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I have had Michael's bracelet since October of 1969. I wore it for years until it began to show signs of stress. It now sits on a shelf above my desk along with his photograph. I think of him, and the others who gave up so much for us, often. May God Bless our men and women who serve today.
Mitzie Sousa |
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His middle name is not Leroy. It is Lero. It was his mother's maiden name.
15 Jul 2005
Michael's remains have been returned and will be buried with his parents and brother in Defiance, Ohio.
From his nephew, Jef Wagner 6355 Garden Rd, Maumee, Oh 43537 charlesdexterward@yahoo.com |
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I have worn SSG Batt's bracelet for 12 years.
Tami W. |
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I attended Michael Batt's funeral today at St. John Church in Defiance, Ohio. Sad, because he had to die over there in the first place, beautiful because he is home, and my good friend, his twin sister Mary, can now have some degree of closure. Can't imagine her open-ended pain for the past 36 years! THANK GOD MIKE'S HOME!!
From a friend of Mike's twin sis, Mary Wagner, |
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Welcome home, Michael. Today, as you are laid to rest, may God bless you and may His love bring peace and comfort to your family. As many of us go day to day griping of mundane things, may we always take time to pause and remember the soldiers like you, those before you and those who have followed you, who have given their lives for the freedoms we so casually take for granted. Thank you and God bless you.
From a distant cousin, |
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Welcome home, Michael. I find it hard to put my thoughts and feelings into words - they seem to only make sense to me sometimes, so today I won't even try.
I've worn your MIA Bracelet for many years.
Allan Seale |
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My name is Mary Wagner and I am the twin sister of Sgt. First Class Michael Batt. Mike has been listed as an MIA since 3-16-69. We were recently blessed with having his remains identified and returned to us. His funeral was held in his home town of Defiance, Ohio on Monday, July 25th. I want to thank so many wonderful veterans, friends, former classmates, and family, who came to share the day with us. Many members of the Chained Eagles and Rolling Thunder groups rode very long distances in extreme heat conditions. I am still just overwhelmed by the love, kindness and generosity shared with us. I will never be able to tell everyone how much you meant to all of us. Please know you have been in my thought and prayers daily since Mike's funeral. I can only hope you get to see this. To Sergeant Herman Bright, Mike's escort home from Hawaii... God Bless and thank you again. To the military pall bearers and bugler from Fort Knox - you are etched in my memory forever. If I didn't mention you by name please know that you are in my heart for every kindness granted to us.
Mary Wagner |
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I came across this memorial to Sergeant Batt on the web today. I just wanted to go on record in extending my warmest condolences to Mrs. Wagner and her family. I cannot imagine what it must be like to have lost someone in this manner only to reach closure so long afterward. I am glad that at long last Sgt. Batt is home. All my best and God bless.
From a friend of the family, |
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My husband, Bernard Feierstein, a Vietnam Veteran, passed away last year. As I was going through some of his possessions today, I found the POW MIA bracelet of Sgt Michael Batt, 3.16.69, in his bureau drawer. I remember my husband wearing Michael's bracelet for many, many years. My heart goes out to Michael's family. I am so glad that Michael was laid to rest on American soil. Thank you for the sacrifice Michael and your family have made for our country. We will always be fiercely proud of all the men who gave their lives so we could be free. "Freedom is not free" as you know all too well. My very best wishes to Michael's family.
Abbey Feierstein |
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Today in searching the schedule for the Moving Wall I found this link and now want to add my thoughts and prayers to Michael's family and friends. For many years through the 70's I wore Michael's MIA bracelet constantly - even at my wedding, ignoring the comments of many that it didn't "go with my gown" or "fit the occasion". I have prayed for Michael and his family throughout the years. His bracelet was a constant reminder to me of the sacrifies he and others made so that we could have the freedoms and privileges we so often take for granted. I clearly remember one day in the early 70's that I was grumbling and fretting about some minor thing happening in my day. As I stepped into a tub of hot water to relieve the stress I caught sight of his bracelet on my wrist and broke into tears thinking he might be a POW who hadn't even had water to drink and here I was complaining about nothing! As the bracelet became worn and I was afraid I might loose it I stopped wearing it, but it still has a treasured place in my jewelry box. Over the years I have told my now young adult daughters about the bracelet, what it meant, what Michael gave for us and to not ever forget what people like Michael, their own grandfather, their aunts and uncles, and other veterans have sacrificed. Together, this week-end we are visiting the Moving Wall in Yountville, California. My loving thoughts and gratitude to all of you
Sandy Benedetti |
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You were in the best of company on that fateful day. Raymond Bobe was my classmate and winged his way to Heaven with you. I am sure you and he are guarding those pearly gates and await our arrival. You will always be remembered along side Raymond when I take those special moments to remember. You shall remain forever young in the minds and hearts of those who knew and loved you. May God grant to those of us who are left here without you and Raymond the same peace that you have enjoyed for 37 years.
Reba Darnell |
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I never knew him. He was my father Eric's older cousin. I heard about him the summer of the funeral, but I did not go to it. I regret that now, for I have a curiosity about the Vietnam War that developed last year. I've been trying to learn all I can about him. It has been a very interesting search. I go to see the Vietnam Wall soon, I'll search for his name then. God Bless you, Michael, and all others who have died the way you did. God Bless all of the men and women in uniform.
From a second cousin, |
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My name is Bonnie Lyons and I've been wearing Michael's bracelet since 1969. It's always been on my wrist, even during surgery. They taped it to my wrist. I was told that when your POW/MIA was found that you were supposed to give the bracelet to his family. Is this correct? If so I would like to have his sister's address. If not I will cherish it always!! I'm so glad that his family has finally found closure. I only wish I would have thought to utilize the internet sooner. I would have been honored to attend his funeral and meet all of his friends and family. If any of his family would like to contact me PLEASE do so. Roses are red, violets are blue ... I will always remember you. I can be reached at my daughter's e-mail num1rrfan@yahoo.com
Sincerely |
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I wore Michael's bracelet for years and years and often told my 3 boys about my POW/MIA Bracelet. This August my husband and sons went to Washington DC and called me to tell me they were looking at his name at the Vietnam Memorial - God Bless him always.
JoAnn Porcelli |
A Note from The Virtual WallOn 16 March 1969 the Command Aviation Company, 210th Aviation Battalion, was tasked with flying a routine logistics mission which originated at Long Thanh with several scheduled stops enroute Hue/Phu Bai and return. The aircraft assigned was a UC-21A aircraft (tail number 66-18007). The trip was uneventful through its first scheduled stops. At Long Binh passengers Major Marvin L. Foster, SP4 Michael Batt, and PFC Raymond Bobe boarded the aircraft for transportation to Hue. The aircraft went from Long Binh to Qui Nhon, where two passengers deplaned, and departed for Hue/Phu Bai.Although the weather was good on departure from Qui Nhon it deteriorated as the flight approached Danang and the crew requested an instrument flight plan to Hue with radar flight following. Although Danang had radio and radar contact with the UC-21, radio contact was lost when the crew was directed to change frequency to Hue Approach and radar contact was lost shortly thereafter (not unexpectedly, since there's a 5000-foot mountain range between the two places). The official reports do not indicate that Hue/Phu Bai ever established contact with the UC-21. Although search and rescue efforts were begun when the aircraft failed to arrive on time, an airborne search had to await improvement in the weather and were unsuccessful in finding any evidence of the aircraft or its crew and passengers. The five men aboard were classed as "Missing" and were continued in that category until the Secretary of the Army approved Presumptive Findings of Death on the dates shown below:
The press release does not mention Captain Charles R. Barnes by name; he is the "one other passenger aboard whose remains have not been identified". A JTF-FA summary of the recovery operation dated 05 April 2005 gives the location of the crash site - the peak of Nui Cai Mountain, 11 kilometers east-southeast of Phu Loc, part of the 5000-foot mountain range mentioned above. |
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The point-of-contact for this memorial is his nephew, Jef Wagner 6355 Garden Rd, Maumee, Oh 43537 charlesdexterward@yahoo.com |
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With all respect
Jim Schueckler, former CW2, US Army
Ken Davis, Commander, United States Navy (Ret)
Memorial first published on 30 May 2002
Last updated 03/06/2008