FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: Jon R Cavaiani ~ 08 October 2023

Serving The Best Troops and Veterans In The World !! | The Canteen Crew

[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.

           

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, the Medal of Honor, for 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! 

 

[ExTexasRedhead]

Verdun: First Blood & the Death of a French Hero | History Traveler Episode 303

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NT0yaC9sIxg

It’s hard to imagine what hell on Earth might look like, but Verdun has to be as close as it gets. Fought for over 300 days in 1916, the Battle of Verdun has gone down in history as the stuff of nightmares. In this and the next several episodes, we’ll be walking the ground and exploring the history surrounding one of the most titanic and violent battles in WWI.

[radu]

Glad to hear it was a good weekend there.
Yes, it was definitely colder here overnight last night than there. It was 40 when I went to bed and it probably dropped another couple of degrees after that. Won’t drop quite as much tonight since we start warming back up the next several days.

I did switch the central unit over to heat but the thermostat isn’t cranked up. It’s cooler in here now than it’s been all summer. LOL The cats are in little piles of two or three, snuggling for warmth. I wouldn’t mind a couple of degrees warmer but with propane as expensive as it is, I gotta do a little something to keep the bill down.

[luvie]

I wish that fuel wasn’t so expensive so you could be more comfy. We haven’t had the heat on yet at all, since it warms up pretty good when the sun comes up....and we don’t like it hot when sleeping.

How were things at the museum this weekend? Did you have some interesting guests?

[radu]

I’m not all that uncomfortable really. These cats are wusses. LOL

It was a good weekend at the museum. Steadily busy both days and lots of fun folks. With it being fall break for the schools and the weather being crummy Friday, several people brought their kids. One woman who homeschools brought hers and her teen son is REALLY into anything military. He was adorable and a lot of fun, and very interested in all the things we have. His mom appreciated hearing about the TN Maneuvers and Camp Forrest because she didn’t know much about it, though she’d heard about it. Same with the Red Ball Express. She and her kids learned a little history they wouldn’t have learned with textbooks.
She said she has friends who teach at schools and she’s going to tell them about the museum so they can schedule field trips for their classes this winter.

[The Mayor]

October 8

Wisdom We Need

Bible in a Year:

• Isaiah 30–31
• Philippians 4

The way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble.

Proverbs 4:19 In his monumental book The Great Influenza, John M. Barry recounts the story of the 1918 flu epidemic. Barry reveals how health officials, rather than being caught off guard, anticipated a massive outbreak. They feared that World War I, with hundreds of thousands of troops crammed into trenches and moving across borders, would unleash new viruses. But this knowledge was useless to stop the devastation. Powerful leaders, beating the drums of war, rushed toward violence. And epidemiologists estimate that fifty million people died in the epidemic, adding to the roughly twenty million killed in the war’s carnage.

We’ve proven over and again that our human knowledge will never be enough to rescue us from evil (Proverbs 4:14–16). Though we’ve amassed immense knowledge and present remarkable insights, we still can’t stop the pain we inflict on one another. We can’t halt “the way of the wicked,” this foolish, repetitive path that leads to “deep darkness.” Despite our best knowledge, we really have no idea “what makes [us] stumble” (v. 19).

That’s why we must “get wisdom, get understanding” (v. 5). Wisdom teaches us what to do with knowledge. And true wisdom, this wisdom we desperately require, comes from God. Our knowledge always falls short, but His wisdom provides what we need. .

Reflect & Pray

Where do you see human knowledge falling short? How might God’s wisdom instruct you in a better, truer way to live?

Dear God, I wrestle with pride. My human knowledge can’t save me. Please teach me Your truth.

[luvie]

Oh, that’s awesome that you had some neat guests, and maybe if the public school teachers bring their students up there, maybe they’ll learn something worth remembering! I love hearing of young people who are into military history, etc.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Mayor, and thank you for today’s sustenance for body and soul.

Hope you have all your ducks in a row and are ready to take on the new week.

I’m still working on finishing up last week so I’ll be ready for this week.

[radu]

We already have several teachers who bring their classes through each year and as more find out about us, they schedule tours. One high school teacher in Murfreesboro has one group of students in his history class the first semester and a different group the second semester. He’s at the museum twice each year for class tours.

There’s one class tour scheduled for Thursday and there are a couple more this month written on the board in the office. The Boss does those tours.

There are a lot of kids around here who are interested in military history. Their eyes light up when they’re up close and personal with items the military use and they want to learn even more. Part of our mission statement ... “educate the younger generations.”

[MoochPooch]

Evening, Kathy! Just finished Simchat Torah, but terrified for Israel.

[ExTexasRedhead]

Kleenex Alert

Grandpa, were you a hero in the war? (Band of Brothers, Major Dick Winters)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6TrbOexkUc

[luvie]

I like that motto. At least in one little pocket of America are kids being taught about things that count. Good on y’all and the museum.

[radu]

The man the museum is named after is the one who came up with our missions statement. To honor our military and educate the younger generations. He was a Korea War veteran.

I’m sure there are teachers around here who don’t care about really educating their students but there are plenty who do. There are other military museums around the state and I don’t know how many arrange group tours but am glad our does. I know of a couple that are a bit small for it but we have plenty of room.

[luvie]

I’m glad y’all get plenty of teachers who love to teach their kids about American history. The right way! They’ll learn more at the museum than they ever will from someone reading to them from a dull history book! That stuff made my eyes glaze over. 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.

Gizmo had a spectacular birthday yesterday. We had a great supper from Sonic and had a spectacular time at Comanche Lake.

How's everyone doing this morning?

[radu]

Yeah, just learning from history books is boring. Seeing things the military used/use - - vehicles, arms, uniforms, even cooking and even eating utensils - - brings it more to life. We let the kids have a little hands-on with a few things. They love the hand-held siren in the Civil Defense section. They get to slip on a Kevlar vest. They can take turns with one of the hand-crank generators and it’s fun watching them compete with that to see who can do it the longest. Many don’t last a minute but some go longer. That thing isn’t easy to crank! I can’t do it for a whole minute but then my bum back is the reason for that. That’s my excuse and I’m stickin’ with it. LOL

Throwing in little history lessons, like the TN Maneuvers and Camp Forrest or the Red Ball Express, etc., gets them interested enough to look into them a little more online. Heck, a lot of adults tell me they plan to look into them online too. There are a lot of things we weren’t taught when we were in school.

[radu]

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

Glad Gizmo had a great birthday. He sure dragged you all over the place, didn’t he? He’s enjoying the comfortable weather after the long, hot summer and having energy to run around.

[luvie]

I guess there are good and bad things about the internet. So many things that interest people can be followed up on it. If the person has any real curiosity.

[radu]

Yep, good things and bad things.
I do NO social media. I use the ‘net as a learning tool and there’s a lot of cool info to be found. I do use YouTube for entertainment and for learning. A lot of good documentaries to be found and even the livestreams, which can be entertaining - nest cams and such - are also informative.
We’re never too old to stop learning.

[luvie]

We’re sure not too old for learning. I learn something new every day it seems. Like you said....some good, some bad.

Now I need to head out. I’m so sleepy from the early-morning wake-up. Oh, how I hated hearing that thing! LOL! See ya tomorrow!

[radu]

Learning keeps the brain cells functioning. :-)

I hear ya on hating the alarm early in the morning. It was so nice sleeping in today.
Get a good night’s sleep and enjoy sleeping late.