Michael Edward Means was born in Brookings, South Dakota
on October 5, 1949 to Harold and Ella June (Sylvis) Means.
He has two sisters, Paula and Barbra, and two brothers,
Richard and James Burright. Michael lived in Brookings with
his family, and attended school there. He left Brookings as
a young boy, and went first to California, and then to
Washington State in 1960. Michael enjoyed music and the
guitar. His favorite guitar player was Duane Eddy. Michael
loved to play with his cocker spaniel Rex, who he considered
his buddy. But the most important thing to him was his
family and his country. While in Washington, Michael worked
for Shepard Ambulance.
Michael entered the Marines in the summer of 1967. He
began his tour of Vietnam on July 2, 1968. On August 15,
1968, Pfc. Michael Edward Means was killed as a result of an
accidental shooting in Quang Nam Province, South Vietnam.
Pfc. Means was buried at the Washington State Memorial
Funeral Park in Seattle, Washington. Marine Pfc. Michael
Edward Means’ name can be found on Panel 48W, Row 018 on the
Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C.
Paula Letson, sister to Pfc. Means, wrote: “He was much
loved, and is and will be missed much. He contributed and
gave a lot, and his reward is in Heaven.”
At the time of this writing, survivors include his
mother, Elle June Mikelich, Seattle, Washington; his
brothers Richard and James Burright; sister Barbra Taylor,
Washington state; and sister Paula Jean Letson, Deerlodge,
Montana.
Kendra Rosemary Karst, 8th grade, Stanley County Middle
School, Fort Pierre, South Dakota, January 2, 2006,
respectfully submitted this entry. Information was provided
by Paula Letson, Deerlodge, Montana, sister to Pfc. Michael
Edward Means.
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