Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Recognition Delayed, but Bravery Not Forgotten
Heroes and Traitors ^ | 8/4/2005

Posted on 08/05/2005 4:16:13 AM PDT by Coop


Excerpt from Jul 03 petition for Congressional Medal of Honor consideration:

On 2 April 1968...[Joe Vitale and Mike Wacasey], armed only with an M-14, M-60 machinegun, fragmentation/white phosphorous grenades and 1000 rounds of ammunition, were inserted by PBR (river patrol boat) near [a] village on the Ham Luong [river]... [the two sailors] were shortly confronted by [a North Vietnamese Army] company (approximately 100 troops) with no PBR or helicopter gunfire support. The men decided their only chance for survival was to take the fight to the enemy, so Joe threw grenades into half a dozen hooches as Mike continued to put down deadly suppressive fire into each building. As they made their way through the village the men were met with a plethora of return fire from the survivors of the NVA Company...

...three special boat operators just returning from a PBR patrol heard the overwhelming firefight and immediately knew that their teammates were in grave danger... immediately [they] jumped into a PBR loaded with ammunition and raced to the rescue...

...Petty Officer Vitale, now with fire support from the PBR, ordered Seaman Wacasey to the craft. As Wacasey made his way to the boat, Vitale - with total disregard for his own life - stood up on the paddy dike and used deadly fire from his M-14 (killing an estimated 30+ NVA/VC) to cover his teammate's escape...

...[a] grenade fell to the deck at Cagle's feet where Joe Vitale was laying covered in mud and unable to stand... Joe, fearing for his teammates' safety, grabbed the grenade to his abdomen and rolled up into the fetal position to absorb the blast with his body...


(Excerpt) Read more at heroesandtraitors.org ...


TOPICS: Extended News; Foreign Affairs; Government; US: New Hampshire
KEYWORDS: disabledveterans; hero; joevitale; medalofhonor; pbr; vietnam
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-65 next last
To: agere_contra; Coop
And in stark contrast: Kerry got three purple hearts for nothing.

Plus a free ticket back to his mansion in Massachusetts.

What can we do to speed up this medal process? Who can we write to?

21 posted on 08/05/2005 8:51:54 AM PDT by BushisTheMan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: BushisTheMan; agere_contra

The above letter was sent to the SecNav's office, or you could try contacting Sen. Sununu. Or even your own representatives, especially if they're on the House or Senate Armed Services Committees.


22 posted on 08/05/2005 9:35:51 AM PDT by Coop (www.heroesandtraitors.org)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: agere_contra; RAY; IGOTMINE; BushisTheMan; StarCMC; mohresearcher; patton; RaceBannon; Squantos; ...
Just heard this afternoon from a good source that Mr. Vitale's file has been before the Awards Board, and he should expect a letter from the board within 90 days. If they have approved it, his file/award goes to the President and Congress.
23 posted on 08/05/2005 9:46:40 AM PDT by Coop (www.heroesandtraitors.org)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Coop

Got my fingers crossed here. I'm thinking that there were lot of folks in the military during Vietnam who deserved this kind of recognition (some maybe for lesser awards) but didn't get it because of the unpopularity of the war. Do you have any thoughts on that? If that's true, it stinks to high heaven and it's about time we get busy and do something about it.


24 posted on 08/05/2005 10:34:41 AM PDT by StarCMC (Old Sarge is my hero...doing it right in Iraq! Vaya con Dios, Sarge.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: StarCMC; JeanS; Indy Pendance

Your theory makes sense. I'd like to think that didn't happen, but I'd also like to think that our Vietnam veterans were treated with the respect they truly deserved.


25 posted on 08/05/2005 9:12:09 PM PDT by Coop (www.heroesandtraitors.org)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: Coop

bttt


26 posted on 08/05/2005 9:55:03 PM PDT by Indy Pendance
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub

Tonk, this is the gent I mentioned to you a few days ago.


27 posted on 08/06/2005 7:16:45 PM PDT by Coop (www.heroesandtraitors.org)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: Coop; The Sailor; txradioguy; Jet Jaguar; Defender2; Blue Scourge; Cool Multiservice Soldier; ...

Hero Ping


28 posted on 08/06/2005 9:01:06 PM PDT by 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub (Never Forget)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub

Hero bump!


29 posted on 08/06/2005 9:03:19 PM PDT by Soaring Feather
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub

A fine fellow indeed!


30 posted on 08/06/2005 9:07:54 PM PDT by EsmeraldaA
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: Coop

Damned fine work, sailor. This gunner's mate is a mensch!


31 posted on 08/06/2005 9:12:16 PM PDT by Army Air Corps (Four fried chickens and a coke)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub; MeekOneGOP; potlatch; ntnychik; devolve; Happy2BMe; Boazo; OXENinFLA; ...

God Bless Gunner's Mate Third Class Joe Vitale
Thank You for Serving

32 posted on 08/06/2005 9:19:56 PM PDT by Smartass (Si vis pacem, para bellum - Por el dedo de Dios se escribió)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: Smartass; 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub

bttt


33 posted on 08/06/2005 9:37:32 PM PDT by bitt ('We will all soon reap what the ignorant are now sowing.' Victor Davis Hanson)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 32 | View Replies]

To: Smartass

Very nice!


34 posted on 08/06/2005 9:37:48 PM PDT by potlatch (Does a clean house indicate that there is a broken computer in it?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 32 | View Replies]

To: 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub

Thanks for the ping Tonkin. Most of us could only do that for our children, he was a hero, indeed!!


35 posted on 08/06/2005 9:40:25 PM PDT by potlatch (Does a clean house indicate that there is a broken computer in it?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: Coop

BTS


36 posted on 08/06/2005 9:40:56 PM PDT by FierceKulak
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub; Coop
Thanks Tonk.

Did you see this post #15 on the "Dose" today? There is an excellent photo, but I can't get it here.

President Bush drapes the Congressional Medal of Honor on Ed Freeman of Boise, Idaho, in the East Room at the White House, July 16, 2001. Mr. Freeman was awarded the honor for his actions in Viet Nam in 1965 when, as a helicopter pilot, he flew through gunfire more than 20 times during a single, ferocious battle, bringing supplies to a trapped batallion and flying more than 70 wounded soldiers to safety.

This may be the right time for Mr. Vitale to receive this overdue honor.

37 posted on 08/06/2005 9:41:14 PM PDT by Just A Nobody (I - LOVE - my attitude problem!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: bitt; potlatch

38 posted on 08/06/2005 9:47:29 PM PDT by Smartass (Si vis pacem, para bellum - Por el dedo de Dios se escribió)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 33 | View Replies]

To: 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub

Hero bttt and thanks for the ping


39 posted on 08/06/2005 9:50:33 PM PDT by amom
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: Smartass

hey, see this?

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1458510/posts?page=2#2


40 posted on 08/06/2005 9:56:58 PM PDT by bitt ('We will all soon reap what the ignorant are now sowing.' Victor Davis Hanson)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 38 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-65 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson