Recognition Delayed, but Bravery Not Forgotten

Heroes and Traitors ^ | 8/4/2005

[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...

[Calpernia]

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...

[Alamo-Girl]

Bump!

[Mustng959]

Thanks for the ping, Tonk. Hope this deserving sailor is awarded the CMH without further delay.

I was just thinking about the M-16 jamming in the jungle environment. I'm not a weapons specialist by any means though I've fired the M-16, M-60, and M-203 many times but I just had a thought. If one buys a conversion kit (to save money plinking) for an AR-15 allowing it to fire .22LR, it jams very much. Seems the powder in the .22LR shell and the gas generated after firing is insufficient to continuously push the bolt back and allow good feeding of the shells in the clip. I'm not a 'Nam vet so my question is....
Is it possible for the old military ball ammo used for the M-16 in a jungle environment susceptible to moisture that could degrade and thereby not giving the rifle a "full load" of barrel gas to successfully chamber the next round? Not being a die-hard shootist but only an occasional plinker, this may have already been remedied. And maybe the M-16 got that rep due to faulty ammo. Personally, I like the M-16 and carried it everyday for 4 years but I don't have the experience necessary nor was in a similar environment to comment one way or the other like many of our respected VietNam veterans that are on these boards. I'm curious about y'alls thoughts and again, a salute to our brave military folks of SE Asia that put it all on the line for us as our MSM catered to the liberal "peace and love" crowd.

[E.G.C.]

BTT!!!!!!!

[Coop]

I wasn't in 'Nam and fired the M16A2 (which supposedly solved the problems of the A1) in the Corps, but what I've heard from my father and others is you had to clean the A1 all the time. Tough to do in a combat environment. The powder build-up and jungle humidity caused it to jam, and for whatever reason the M14 wasn't as susceptible. So your supposition about powder build-up interfering with the bolt makes sense to me.

Doesn't really provide an answer, but I've pinged IGM, who may be able to shed some light on this.

Having fired the M14 and M16A2, I liked 'em both.

[Coop]

I did see that report, and it was definitely a heartwarming photo and story!

[Just A Nobody]

I loved that photo. Is it cooler in WI? We missed you Fri.

[blackie]

Salute to a Hero ~ Bump!

[JDoutrider]

Hero Ping

[Coop]

Is it cooler in WI?

Yes, and lower humidity. Yesterday was absolutely gorgeous - couldn't have asked for a better day for a wedding.

[Indy Pendance]

BTTT!

[Coop]

Good morning!

[Coop]

Did I flag you two to this hero's story?

[Coop]

Hero ping

[Coop]

BTTT

[Coop]

FYI

[Coop]

FYI

[patton]

Did I miss this? No, I am sure I read it.

Hmmm.

[Coop]

Did I miss this? No, I am sure I read it.

I bet you did. I was just using you as a "bumper" since we had just been conversing on another thread. :-)