Mike Betts, U.S. Army, 82nd Airborne, Vietnam

At the age of Dwayne Betts was 10 when he was 10, he took a coach to Quincy, Fla., to visit his grandparents.

After the end of the week, his mother took the boy to town to get on the bus to home.

While they waited for their turn, a photo of soldiers in the windows in Olan Mills’ Olan Mills studio near the station caught the eye of young Dewayne.

“I said, ‘Look, Grandmother. It’s a photo of Mike ” he said.

Mike Betts was his older brother, and was deployed to Vietnam in the 82nd Airborne at the time. He had the photo taken while his daddy accompanied him to the bus stop following his last trip home prior to deployment. There was no one who had returned to see the picture however, due to the random glance that the Betts grandparents of the boys went to the studio and purchased every single copy of the photo taken by her grandson.

Mike Betts was 17 when he decided to volunteer for the organization, Dewayne recalled.

“If you’ve seen the movie “Legends Of The Fall,” it was akin to Tristan … Always trying to find a great death,” he said, likening his older brother to Brad Pitt’s character from”Legends” from 1994.

Mike Betts attended boot camp at Ft. Jackson, and attended Jump School at Ft. Benning. He was able to jump during the debut jump from Ft. Benning, that the parashoot malfunctioned and he was forced to withdraw his reserve. Later on If anyone inquired regarding it, he would laugh and replied, “That’s why you always make sure you have a reserve.”

After the boot camp, he was trained to become a telephone lineman. He later went to Panama to complete a more advanced jungle course. He turned 18 during his jungle training and was soon sent into Southeast Asia.

It was the year 1969. When Mike Betts and two other young soldiers left for Vietnam the next group of soldiers loaded body bags on the plane. They informed the newly arrived soldiers they’d be back next week, in the body bag. Mike said no, they won’t. His mental strength that got him through Vietnam and other trials according to his family.

In Vietnam In Vietnam, he served in Vietnam, he was part of the 101st Airborne division. He was a part of the Battle of Hamburger Hill, where it was the U.S. command ordered the taking of the hill through a frontal assault. the heavily fortified Hill 937 an edifice of the hill Dong Ap Bia in central Vietnam near the Western border Laos, despite the fact that it had no strategic value. Despite the massive fortification and the repercussions of weather conditions Airborne troops seized the hill in a direct attack. The battle caused controversy among soldiers as well as the American public when U.S. command abandoned it immediately after gaining control.

Betts was also involved during Tet 1969. In Vietnam Betts was promoted to an rank called sergeant and was awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart in addition to numerous awards.

In the course of his combat during his time in combat, he would keep the sweets in his C-rations and then give the candy to Vietnamese children.

After his return in the United States, Betts worked as an operator. He was among Harper Electric’s first employees, and later, he worked with Florida Power and Light for 30 years. He was instrumental in restoring the power supply after several hurricanes such as Andrew, Ivan and Katrina. He was recognized as among the top five linemen of the state in 1994 and was a participant in the linemen’s rodeo. He was a naked hand instructor and apprentice instructor.

His family and he moved into Alabama during 2004. He loved fishing hunts, horseback riding, hunting and spending time with his family. He was a fan of making knives and then giving them to others.

The family told him that one of his most popular phrases was to inform people that he was not afraid of anything because the man was an old combat soldier.

The soldier in combat died from cancer of the throat and lung on Jan. 1st, 2023. It was probably as a result of his time in Vietnam. He was laid to rest at the Mitchell Cemetery near Loango. Even though his diagnosis was fatal and he died, his death shocked the family members who believed that he would remain in their lives for just some time.

Due to the celebration it was difficult to have a complete military salute by the time Tuesday, Jan. 3. However, those who belong to the Vietnam Veterans of America, Central Alabama Chapter 607, were able to attend. But the chapter’s chairman Jessie Donaldson, a native of Opp He said that he as well as the honor guard Captain Geoff Colt felt they’d not provided their brother in arms an appropriate send-off.

In April, the chapter brought some of the members of their chapter out to the isolated Mitchell Cemetery, established in 1826 and located in the forest. Then, in front of a gathering from Mike Betts’ family and close friends, Chapter 607 rectified the mistake with the full-on ceremony, which included an anthem from the nation, memorials, an event to fold the flag and ceremony, including the lighting of honors and taps.

Dwayne Betts was able to recall that his brother frequently spoke about two close friends whom he worked but he could not provide a clear answer to what transpired to one of them, Benny Lee Johnson.

“Thought I had more knowledge than anyone else (about his work) however I found some information this weekend that I didn’t realize … The man returned to his home, and he named his child Benny Lee,” Dwayne Betts told the media. “First he informed me that Benny Lee and (Tom) McCall and Tom McCall got separated in a firefight. He then told me that Benny Lee got killed; then he told me that Benny Lee came back from Vietnam and tried to reach him.” The past weekend was the first time he heard the whole story. Benny Lee Johnson died traumatically in Vietnam and was right next to his closest friend. Dwayne Betts thinks that’s why his brother would drink – to get rid of the recollections which haunted him at midnight.

Mike Betts was preceded in death by his parents, Jimmy Lee Betts and Janice Nobles; his brother, James Allen Betts; and his wife, Annelle Betts.

The deceased is survived by three three children, Sheryl McKathan (Sidney) of Pleasant Home, Benny Betts of Andalusia as well as Michael Betts of Okeechobee, Fla. His grandkids, Christopher (Becky) Wagoner, Hunter Betts, Josh Betts, Elish McKathan and Ashley McKathan; his great-granddaughter, Reagan; his brother, Dwayne Betts of Fredricksberg, Va.; his nephews and nieces, Tyler Betts, Kayla Betts, Devin Curry and Bonnie Trammell as well as his dear acquaintance, bubba Ross of Bonifay, Florida.

Sources The Eulogy of Mike Betts, Wikipedia and family interview.

Michele Gerlach is the communications director for the city of Andalusia as well as is the executive secretary for the Covington Veterans Foundation. The Covington Veterans Foundation would like to thank all the Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 607 for their support for the Betts family, as well as to all veterans and for their involvement in the events that surround the 2022 event in the Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall in Andalusia.

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