Born in Enterprise, Oregon, PFC Oliver studied agriculture during his time at Oregon State University. While serving with the Marine Corps’ F Company, Battalion Landing Team 2/4, 9th Marine Amphibious Brigade “on May 1st the Battalion participated in Operation NAPOLEON/SALINE within the Cua Viet River area complex in northern Quang Tri Province. At first light Company B, 1st Battalion, 3d Marines crossed the Song Bo Dieu and joined Company H of the 4th Marines moving towards Dai Do with Company F joining the sweep.
The Marines were held up by heavy enemy fire and fixed wing was called in with air strikes on the NVA until some of the heavy enemy firing subsided. At 0955 Hours Company G commanded by Capt. Jay Vargas loaded on Mike boats with Tank support and moved to the area of contact moving quickly to join in the battle for Dai Do. Battling the enemy through bunkers and trenches Company G linked with Company B and were holding the village while still in heavy contact with the NVA forces that survived air strikes and artillery barrages by the Marines. The Marines managed to hold their ground until morning when they would push through Dai Do towards their next objective with was the village of Dinh To.
On May 2, facing an enemy that had consolidated their forces during the night and that began launching counter attacks firing mortars and fighting from spider holes as Marines tried to move forward the fighting came down to in hand to hand combat in many cases until the enemy retreated by nightfall, the battle proved costly as many were killed or wounded in action with many hard days and battles ahead. One of the casualties was PFC Michael Oliver who was killed in action as a result of hostile rifle fire” (Find-a-Grave). He was survived by his Parents and his sister.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/134871658
http://www.vvmf.org/Wall-of-Faces/38638/MICHAEL-D-OLIVER
http://thewall-usa.com/info.asp?recid=38554
https://www.oregondigital.org/catalog/oregondigital:fx71bs493#page/53/mo... (pg 27)