Mark Lindke
PFC, U.S. Army
1968- 1969
The second oldest of four brothers, I was born September 11, 1948, in a Mt. Clemens, Michigan hospital. I lived and grew up in Inkster, Michigan, graduating from high school in 1966. Along with several other classmates, I entered Northern Michigan University the following September. After two semesters of not being a serious student, I knew Uncle Sam had his eye on me, so I joined the Army in February 1968. I went to Basic Training at Ft. Campbell, Kentucky, and Advance Infantry Training at Ft. Knox, Kentucky. By October 1968 (got to see a Tiger World Series game while on leave), I left Oakland, California for Bangkok, Thailand. As a PFC with the 9th Logistical Command, I served in a support/supply role stationed at Khorat and Sattahip, Thailand for the next fourteen months. One of the more satisfying and enlightening experiences while overseas was a two-week TDY assignment to Pattaya, Thailand attached to one of our special Forces Teams that was training the Thai Navy Seals. I returned home and was honorably discharged in December 1969. I bounced around for a bit, did factory work, another year at Northern, transferred to Eastern Michigan University and in 1974 while at EMU, accepted a counseling position at Washtenaw County Veterans Affairs office. Thirty-six years later in 2010, after assuming progressively responsible positions, I retired as the Director of the Washtenaw County Department of Veterans Affairs. Throughout my career I have had the privilege of assisting veterans and their families secure the benefits they had earned and were entitled to receive from the VA. I was honored to be elected on two separate occasions to serve two-year terms as President of the Michigan Association of County Veterans Counselors. I also served for twenty years on the Selective Service System Local Board #341, and I continue to volunteer at the VA Ann Arbor Medical Center. I am proud to be an original board member of Fisher House Michigan (once known as Build It For The Brave), was awarded Director Emeritus status, and remain an advisor to FHM as we continue to raise funds to build Fisher Houses in Michigan. I live in Dixboro with my wife (we’ve been married since 1979) and we have two adult sons and one grandchild. I’ve been a Legionnaire for over forty-three years and feel fortunate to continue to be of service to the men and women who have honorably served all of us.
