Born on January 9, 1949, in Ottawa, Canada, Michael was one of two sons of Patrick G. Laderoute and Martha T. Laderoute of Ottawa, Ontario. The boys went on to live with their mother in Grand Bay Westfield, New Brunswick, where Michael attended school before leaving to enlist in the United States Marine Corps on August 19, 1967, in Boston, MA. He arrived in Vietnam on January 19, 1968, where he was assigned to duty with Company B, 1st Battalion, 26th Marines, 3d MARDIV (Rein) FMF, and flown to the Marine Khe Sanh Combat Base in Quang Tri Province.

The Khe Sanh Combat Base was surrounded by the NVA, and on February 25, an ill-fated reconnaissance in-force patrol was launched to the southwestern approach of the perimeter. Approaching a tree line, the Marines spotted several NVAs and began a pursuit attempting to capture them. As they crossed a road into the undergrowth, they were suddenly hit by a heavy volume of fire at point-blank range from the enemy hidden in camouflaged bunkers and trenches. The patrol found themselves victims of a classic L-shaped ambush, immediately taking casualties and fighting for their lives.

Casualties initially reported were six Marines killed in action, 24 missings, including PFC Laderoute, and 17 wounded. It was several weeks until the missing were recovered, including Michael Laderoute, whose body bore fragmentation wounds inflicted by hostile grenades or mortar fire.

Michael Laderoute was posthumously promoted to Lance Corporal, and his remains were returned to Canada, where he was interred with full Military Honors in St Augustine's Catholic Church Cemetery, Grand Bay Westfield, New Brunswick.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com