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FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: Jon R. Cavaiani ~ 01 May 2017
Serving The Best Troops and Veterans In The World !! | StarCMC and The Canteen Crew

Posted on 04/30/2017 5:02:45 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska

For the freedom you enjoyed yesterday... Thank the Veterans who served in The United States Armed Forces.

Looking forward to tomorrow's freedom? Support The United States Armed Forces Today!

~ Hall of Heroes ~

Jon R. Cavaiani

Info from here.

ArmyPatch small   NavySeal small   Air Force Seal   Marines Seal small   Coast Guard Seal small (better)

Jon Robert Cavaiani (August 2, 1943 - July 29, 2014) is a retired United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration葉he Medal of Honor庸or his actions in the Vietnam War.

Born in Ireland, Cavaiani emigrated to the United States with his parents in 1947 at age four. Though initially classified 4F, due in part to a severe allergy to bee stings, Cavaiani joined the Army from Fresno, California, shortly before becoming a naturalized citizen in 1968.

He was sent to Vietnam in 1970 with the Special Forces and by June 4, 1971 was serving as a Staff Sergeant in the Vietnam Training Advisory Group. On that day, in the Republic of Vietnam, his platoon came under intense enemy attack. Cavaiani organized the unit's defense and, when evacuation by helicopter became necessary, he voluntarily stayed on the ground and directed the aircraft, which successfully evacuated most of the platoon. Cavaiani and a small group were left behind. During a major enemy attack the next morning, he ordered the remaining men to escape while he stayed and provided suppressive fire to cover their retreat. He was captured and spent the next two years as a prisoner of war.

Jon R. Cavaiani was released by the Provisional Government of Vietnam on April 27, 1973.

 

Staff Sergeant Cavaiani's official Medal of Honor citation reads:

S/Sgt. Cavaiani distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty in action in the Republic of Vietnam on 4 and 5 June 1971 while serving as a platoon leader to a security platoon providing security for an isolated radio relay site located within enemy-held territory. On the morning of 4 June 1971, the entire camp came under an intense barrage of enemy small arms, automatic weapons, rocket-propelled grenade and mortar fire from a superior size enemy force. S/Sgt. Cavaiani acted with complete disregard for his personal safety as he repeatedly exposed himself to heavy enemy fire in order to move about the camp's perimeter directing the platoon's fire and rallying the platoon in a desperate fight for survival. S/Sgt. Cavaiani also returned heavy suppressive fire upon the assaulting enemy force during this period with a variety of weapons. When the entire platoon was to be evacuated, S/Sgt. Cavaiani unhesitatingly volunteered to remain on the ground and direct the helicopters into the landing zone. S/Sgt. Cavaiani was able to direct the first 3 helicopters in evacuating a major portion of the platoon. Due to intense increase in enemy fire, S/Sgt. Cavaiani was forced to remain at the camp overnight where he calmly directed the remaining platoon members in strengthening their defenses. On the morning of 5 June, a heavy ground fog restricted visibility. The superior size enemy force launched a major ground attack in an attempt to completely annihilate the remaining small force. The enemy force advanced in 2 ranks, first firing a heavy volume of small arms automatic weapons and rocket-propelled grenade fire while the second rank continuously threw a steady barrage of hand grenades at the beleaguered force. S/Sgt. Cavaiani returned a heavy barrage of small arms and hand grenade fire on the assaulting enemy force but was unable to slow them down. He ordered the remaining platoon members to attempt to escape while he provided them with cover fire. With 1 last courageous exertion, S/Sgt. Cavaiani recovered a machine gun, stood up, completely exposing himself to the heavy enemy fire directed at him, and began firing the machine gun in a sweeping motion along the 2 ranks of advancing enemy soldiers. Through S/Sgt. Cavaiani's valiant efforts with complete disregard for his safety, the majority of the remaining platoon members were able to escape. While inflicting severe losses on the advancing enemy force, S/Sgt. Cavaiani was wounded numerous times. S/Sgt. Cavaiani's conspicuous gallantry, extraordinary heroism and intrepidity at the risk of his life, above and beyond the call of duty, were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the U.S. Army.

President Gerald Ford presented Cavaiani with the medal during a ceremony on December 12, 1974. Cavaiani later reached the rank of sergeant major before retiring from the Army in 1996.

 

Please remember the Canteen is here to honor, support and entertain our troops and their families.  This is a politics-free zone!  Thanks for helping us in our mission! 

 


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Free Republic
KEYWORDS: canteen; heroes; military; troopsupport
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To: Kathy in Alaska; GodBlessUSA; Mrs.Nooseman; AZamericonnie; HiJinx; Colonel_Flagg; BIGLOOK; ...



🇺🇸Sergeant Major
🇺🇸Jon R. Cavaiani
🇺🇸Hero
🇺🇸R. I. P.

21 posted on 04/30/2017 7:06:22 PM PDT by luvie (Be still and know that I Am GOD.....Psalm 46:10)
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To: Kathy in Alaska

Hi Everybody!

((((HUGS))))


22 posted on 04/30/2017 7:18:03 PM PDT by left that other site (You shall know the Truth, and The Truth Shall Set You Free.)
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To: ConorMacNessa

Howdy do, Conor. *HUGZ*

Hope you had a nice day .... and that it was cooler than yesterday! That was TOO hot.


23 posted on 04/30/2017 7:21:48 PM PDT by radu (May God watch over our troops and keep them safe)
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To: radu
Good evening, Radu!

*HUGS*

How goes it with you this evening?

"I am an American fighting man. I serve in the forces guarding our country and our way of life.
I am prepared to give my life in their defense."

24 posted on 04/30/2017 7:22:42 PM PDT by ConorMacNessa (FMF Corpsman - Lima 3/5 RVN 1969 - St. Michael the Archangel protect us in Battle!)
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To: LUV W

Howdy, LUV.

Have a good day? Maybe stop by DQ this evening for supper and a Blizzard?


25 posted on 04/30/2017 7:23:14 PM PDT by radu (May God watch over our troops and keep them safe)
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To: ConorMacNessa

LOL! Looks like we were posting at about the same time.

Things are good here. Storms ripped through TN this afternoon but fizzled out by the time they reached us. Nothing but rain here and cooler temps for the next several days.


26 posted on 04/30/2017 7:26:28 PM PDT by radu (May God watch over our troops and keep them safe)
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To: radu

Hey, there! It was a good day, but no stops at the DQ. We had lunch at church after morning services, and we were sooooo stuffed! We are a small congregation but have some excellent cooks that aren’t me. LOL! Hubby made ice cream and rolls. Homemade. And some interesting meringue cookies.


27 posted on 04/30/2017 7:26:49 PM PDT by luvie (Be still and know that I Am GOD.....Psalm 46:10)
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To: LUV W

Mmmmmmm, those meals at church can be some real winners. Better than DQ any day!

Oh man, now I’m drooling just thinking about that home-made ice cream! And the cookies sound good too. Let’s see .... how many hours will it take to get there from here? LOL!


28 posted on 04/30/2017 7:39:47 PM PDT by radu (May God watch over our troops and keep them safe)
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To: radu
A day of rest here. I really wiped myself out yesterday in the Garden.

"I am an American fighting man. I serve in the forces guarding our country and our way of life.
I am prepared to give my life in their defense."

29 posted on 04/30/2017 7:43:31 PM PDT by ConorMacNessa (FMF Corpsman - Lima 3/5 RVN 1969 - St. Michael the Archangel protect us in Battle!)
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To: radu

We had left-over ice cream! LOL! Y’all come, heah? :)


30 posted on 04/30/2017 7:46:46 PM PDT by luvie (Be still and know that I Am GOD.....Psalm 46:10)
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To: ConorMacNessa

I’d say you did get whipped yesterday potting all those seedlings. You bought a lot of goodies. Sundays are good days to kick back and relax, rejuvenate for the week ahead. :-)


31 posted on 04/30/2017 7:51:40 PM PDT by radu (May God watch over our troops and keep them safe)
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To: LUV W

Grabbing the car keys and hitting the door. I’ll leave Hubby here to deal with the kittehs. LOL


32 posted on 04/30/2017 7:52:38 PM PDT by radu (May God watch over our troops and keep them safe)
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To: radu

LOL! I have two here that you can spoil while you chow down on the ice cream!


33 posted on 04/30/2017 8:00:28 PM PDT by luvie (Be still and know that I Am GOD.....Psalm 46:10)
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To: LUV W

Sure you don’t want a couple more? I have carriers and can haul a couple with me. LOL


34 posted on 04/30/2017 8:03:49 PM PDT by radu (May God watch over our troops and keep them safe)
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To: left that other site

Howdy, ML.

Still enjoying nice weather for walks with Penny and cruises on Blue?


35 posted on 04/30/2017 8:05:01 PM PDT by radu (May God watch over our troops and keep them safe)
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To: Kathy in Alaska

Spring has brought some roller coaster weather. Some days hot, then plunging into chilly. The longer I can postpone having on the AC, the better!

Bet Alaska is really nice this time of year.


36 posted on 04/30/2017 9:32:20 PM PDT by MoochPooch (I'm a compassionate cynic.)
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To: radu

Nooooooooo! LOL!

Sorry it took so long...I got sidetracked in OKC.


37 posted on 04/30/2017 10:41:00 PM PDT by luvie (Be still and know that I Am GOD.....Psalm 46:10)
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To: radu

Guess I’d better go. The early morning was...well...too early! I have to rest up for the “hard” week ahead. Of doing as little as possible. heehee!

Have a good rest-of-the-night! Hope you have kittens soon! Well, Pixie.


38 posted on 04/30/2017 10:43:57 PM PDT by luvie (Be still and know that I Am GOD.....Psalm 46:10)
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To: LUV W

LOL! Can’t blame for tryin’.

I’ve been sidetracked by OKC and all the nests in Europe for a while. Plus Shags, that new guy who’s been hanging around, is hanging out on the back porch again tonight. Been lovin’ on him. I reckon a trip to the vet this week is in order. *sigh*


39 posted on 04/30/2017 11:06:21 PM PDT by radu (May God watch over our troops and keep them safe)
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To: LUV W
Doing as little as possible sounds sooooooo nice. I try but these kittehs make sure there's plenty to do. LOL!

I keep hoping the kittens will arrive "today" but "today" just doesn't seem to come. I'd say little missy Pixie wishes D-day would arrive too. Poor girlie is so bloated these days. I call her "octo-mom".

God night and sleep well. Hope you have a nice, lazy day tomorrow.

40 posted on 04/30/2017 11:13:32 PM PDT by radu (May God watch over our troops and keep them safe)
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