FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: Hector A Cafferata, Jr ~ 01 July 2019

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[Kathy in Alaska]

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~ Hall of Heroes ~

Hector A Cafferata, Jr.
Information from here.

           

Hector Albert Cafferata, Jr., USMCR (Retired) (November 4, 1929 - April 12, 2016)was a United States Marine who received the Medal of Honor for his heroic service at the Battle of Chosin Reservoir during the Korean War. In November 1950, Pvt Cafferata single-handedly held off a regimental-strength enemy and saved the wounded Marines by hurling away a live grenade that had landed in their midst, at the cost of serious personal injury.

Hector Cafferata was born November 4, 1929, in New York City to Mr. and Mrs. Hector A. Cafferata, Sr. of Montville, New Jersey. He attended elementary school at Parsippany-Troy Hills, New Jersey and high school at Boonton, New Jersey. Starting as a sophomore in high school, he played football for three years, and following graduation, he continued as a semi-pro.

In 1943, he was employed for the Sun Dial Corporation of Caldwell, New Jersey. He enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve on February 15, 1948, and was a member of the 21st Reserve Infantry Battalion at Dover, New Jersey, until called to active duty on September 6, 1950.

After training at Camp Pendleton, California, PFC Cafferata embarked for Korea in October 1950, joining the 2nd Battalion 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division.

Cafferata distinguished himself during the Battle of Chosin Reservoir, single-handedly holding off a regimental-sized enemy force and "annihilating two enemy platoons" after most of his comrades had fallen. When a live grenade fell into the shallow entrenchment occupied by his wounded fellow Marines, he grabbed the grenade and hurled it away — saving the lives of many, but suffering severe wounds.  For these heroic actions, he would later be awarded the Medal of Honor. He was evacuated to Japan in December 1950. Cafferata returned to the United States the following month for treatment at the U. S. Naval Hospital, St. Albans, New York. He was placed on the retired list on September 1, 1951.

On November 24, 1952, President Harry S. Truman awarded the medal to PFC Cafferata during ceremonies at the White House.

 

Medal of Honor citation Head and shoulders of a gray-haired white man wearing glasses, a suit and tie, and a star-shaped medal hanging from a blue ribbon around his neck. Cafferata in 2010

The President of the United States in the name of The Congress takes pride in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR to

PRIVATE HECTOR A. CAFFERATA, JR. UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS RESERVE

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a Rifleman with Company F, Second Battalion, Seventh Marines, First Marine Division (Reinforced), in action against enemy aggressor forces in Korea on 28 November 1950. When all the other members of his fire team became casualties, creating a gap in the lines, during the initial phase of a vicious attack launched by a fanatical enemy of regimental strength against his company's hill position, Private Cafferata waged a lone battle with grenades and rifle fire as the attack gained momentum and the enemy threatened penetration through the gap and endangered the integrity of the entire defensive perimeter. Making a target of himself under the devastating fire from automatic weapons, rifles, grenades and mortars, he maneuvered up and down the line and delivered accurate and effective fire against the onrushing force, killing fifteen, wounding many more and forcing the others to withdraw so that reinforcements could move up and consolidate the position. Again fighting desperately against a renewed onslaught later that same morning when a hostile grenade landed in a shallow entrenchment occupied by wounded Marines, Private Cafferata rushed into the gully under heavy fire, seized the deadly missile in his right hand and hurled it free of his comrades before it detonated, severing part of one finger and seriously wounding him in the right hand and arm. Courageously ignoring the intense pain, he staunchly fought on until he was struck by a sniper's bullet and forced to submit to evacuation for medical treatment. Stouthearted and indomitable, Private Cafferata, by his fortitude, great personal valor and dauntless perseverance in the face of almost certain death, saved the lives of several of his fellow Marines and contributed essentially to the success achieved by his company in maintaining its defensive position against tremendous odds. His extraordinary heroism throughout was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

/S/ HARRY S. TRUMAN

Please remember, the Canteen is family friendly and we exist to support and honor our troops and their families, as well as our Allies Troops and theirs.  Thank you to every Soldier, Sailor, Airman, Marine and Coast Guardsman out there for doing what you do to keep us safe.  We are ever in your debt.  And thank you, too, to the families and friends who support them.  God bless our troops.

[radu]

Can’t be fun living where you can’t shoot off fireworks yourself. We occasionally have a dry enough summer that there’s a ban but most of the time it’s all-systems-go. We’ve had plenty of rain this year so we’re good.

I usually get several of the BOGO multi-shot packs in the 200 or 300 gram size, and one pack of the 500 gram size. The folks at the tent I always shop at have a DVD each year of the goodies they’re selling and I watch it with paper and pen in hand to make out my list of the real good ones. Then I run through and pick out as many as I can within my budget. I went by last Sun. night but they didn’t have the DVD setup ready. I’ve been shopping with them for almost 20 years now and it’s a fun tradition.

We didn’t throw firecrackers at each other when we were kids. We shot bottle rockets at each other. LOL Surprisingly, no one ever got hurt.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, ML...((HUGS))...more shopping today?

New boots are good when you and Penny can get back to hiking again.

[Kathy in Alaska]

[The Mayor]

Yes all’s good. They are going to DC for 4th Independence Day celebrations.
We paid for a night in a classy hotel last night.

[MoochPooch]

Evening, Kathy! Thanks for another inspiring bio!

[luvie]

Hector Albert Cafferata, Jr., USMCR (Retired)
November 4, 1929 - April 12, 2016
Medal of Honor Recipient
for his heroic service at the Battle of Chosin Reservoir
during the Korean War. In November 1950
RIP, Hero....

[radu]

Howdy, LUV.

Did you take a nice loooooong nap this afternoon after staying up so late last night? :-)

[Kathy in Alaska]

Pro!!

[Kathy in Alaska]

mountainlion!!

[Kathy in Alaska]

The Mayor!!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Boy....they are going to have a busy and fun time on the Fourth...so many things to see and do.

How nice of you and Mrs Mayor to put them up in a classy hotel.

[luvie]

I sure did! LOL! And I’m still sleepy! Thank goodness it was 5th Sunday which meant that we didn’t have an evening service but the first, then lunch and then the 2nd right after. So I didn’t have to be waked up, either. :)

How was your day? Did it rain? Is it still muggy and uncomfy?

[radu]

I’m surprised you were able to crawl out of bed this morning. LOL At least you were able to nap a long time this afternoon.

Still hot and muggy and will be even hotter this next week. And muggy since there are slight rain chances every day. UGH!

It was a quiet day since it was too hot to go anywhere. I went to the fireworks tent a little while ago to pick out this year’s fun and no one was there. It was all lit up like a Christmas tree but not a soul in sight. All I can figure is whoever was supposed to work the overnight shift didn’t show up and whoever was supposed to be relieved just went home. I’ll try again tomorrow evening and go a little earlier - - and hope it’s cooled off enough. It was still 80 when I went out tonight.

[luvie]

Well, what a bummer that you didn't get to shop for your fireworks. Hope they are open when you go tomorrow. They missed making money tonight because no one showed up. What way is that to run a business! Sheesh!

It was HARD to crawl out, but I got up before the alarm went off. I knew if I dozed back off it would be even harder to wake up.

Got a picture of my Shy Guy Midnight this morning. I had to sneak the picture. LOL!

[E.G.C.]

A very pleasant good Monday morning and ((HUGS)) to everyone at the Canteen and to all our military at home and abroad. Thanks for your service to our country.

How's everyone doing this morning?

[radu]

I don’t have a clue what happened tonight. This is the first time it’s happened to me in all the years I’ve shopped there.
They’ll get my money. LOL! They have the best fireworks of all the tents set up in the area and I shop nowhere else.

Yuck! Bad enough the alarm was set early but waking up before it goes off hurts even more. I did the same thing yesterday morning. LOL

What a cute pic of Midnight. I’m glad he’s sticking around. He was a bad boy disappearing and making you fret.

[radu]

Howdy, E.G.C. ((HUGZ))

Did you steer clear of long vines and tall grass so it would be easier to keep up with Gizmo yesterday? :-)

[luvie]

It WAS bad of him to make me worry. Not sure where he went but he seems to be glad to be back.

Li’l Bit spent most of the evening in the garage. She prissed in when we came home, ate some of P & G’s food and then proceeded out to eat “her” food and sleep on a rug I have out there. If Ginger weren’t such a brat, I’d just let her stay in. She’s a good girl.

I know you wanted those fireworks NOW! They sell them from tents there? Here they have temporary buildings that open up on the sides that they just keep shut up on the plot of land between holidays.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Mooch...glad you enjoyed the bio of our hero, Hector Cafferata.

[radu]

It sounds like he didn’t enjoy wherever he was. Maybe he won’t take off again.
I’m sooooooo glad Hubby finally decided we needed to keep everyone inside. We had a few disappear for a few days but too many disappeared forever. Now I don’t have to fret any more and that’s a relief.

Poor Li’l Bit. Too bad Ginger’s rude to her when she goes inside. It sounds like she’d enjoy being an inside kitty. Who can blame her? It’s hot outside and there’s AC in the house. :-)

I’m not shooting off the fireworks until the 4th so it’s no biggie not getting them tonight. I wasn’t planning to buy them tonight any way. I was going to watch the DVD of fireworks and make a list of what’s really cool and what isn’t, then stew about it a day or so to decide which ones I really want. It’s a tradition. I have a budget and stick to it so need to get the most bang for my buck and still get some cool stuff.

They do have fireworks stores in buildings in TN but a lot of people set up big tents each year to try to make a quick chunk of $$. They can only open for a couple of weeks. So many are around here I don’t know how any of them make a lot of money but they must make a good amount since they keep doing it. I’ve been shopping with the same folks almost 20 years now.