Rocky Versace, a POW War Hero who WILL RECEIVE a MOH!!

STAFF REOMMENDATION FOR MOH ^ | December 21, 2001 | Jeff Head

[Jeff Head]

There is a REAL American Hero, Captain Rocky Versace, who deserves a Medal of Honor. His actions while fighting the Viet Cong in Vietnam and then after his capture are the stuff that heroes, role models and legends are made of.

A number of us on FR, along with a great number of his compatriots in the Armed Services, have been pushing, lobbying and seeking for years that this man be presented the MOH he so richly deserves. Here is an earlier thread from early 2000 regarding the same:

Rocky Versace, A Real American Hero who deserves a Medal of Honor

I just spoke this morning a short while ago to Duane E. Frederic who wrote the:

MEDAL OF HONOR RECOMENDATION STAFF STUDY FOR ROCKY

and I am PROUD to say that a citiation has been recommended and approved and that the legislation enabling the MOH for Rocky has just passed the House and Senate and is in the Defense Appropriation legislation going to the Presidents desk for signature!

Barring a veto (and we should all write the President specifically over this issue to urge him to sign the legislation) there should be a ceremony this spring for ROcky, 39 years after the fact.

Here is the CITATION wording:

The President of the United States of America in the name of The Congress takes pride in presenting the Medal of Honor posthumously to:

CAPTAIN HUMBERT ROQUE VERSACE
UNITED STATES ARMY

CITATION:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while a prisoner of war during the period of 29 October 1963 to 26 September 1965 in the Republic of Vietnam.

While accompanying a Civilian Irregular Defense Group patrol engaged in combat operations in Thoi Binh District, An Xuyen Province, Republic of Vietnam on 29 October 1963, Captain Versace and the CIDG assault force were caught in an ambush from intense mortar, automatic weapons, and small arms fire from elements of a reinforced enemy Main Force battalion. As the battle raged, Captain Versace fought valiantly and encouraged his CIDG patrol to return fire against overwhelming enemy forces. He provided covering fire from an exposed position to enable friendly forces to withdraw from the killing zone when it was apparent that their position would be overrun, and was severely wounded in the knee and back from automatic weapons fire and shrapnel. He stubbornly resisted capture with the last full measure of his strength and ammunition.

Taken prisoner by the Viet Cong, he demonstrated exceptional leadership and resolute adherence to the tenants of the Code of Conduct from the time he entered into a prisoner of war status. Captain Versace assumed command of his fellow American prisoners, and despite being kept locked in irons in an isolation box, raised their morale by singing messages to popular songs of the day, and leaving inspiring messages at the latrine. Within three weeks of captivity, and despite the severity of his untreated wounds, he attempted the first of four escape attempts by dragging himself on his hands and knees out of the camp through dense swamp and forbidding vegetation to freedom. Crawling at a very slow pace due to his weakened condition, the guards quickly discovered him outside the camp and recaptured him. Captain Versace scorned the enemy’s exhaustive interrogation and indoctrination efforts, and inspired his fellow prisoners to resist to the best of their ability.

When he used his Vietnamese language skills to protest improper treatment of the American prisoners by the guards, he was put into leg irons and gagged to keep his protestations out of earshot of the other American prisoners in the camp. The last time that any of his fellow prisoners heard from him, Captain Versace was singing God Bless America at the top of his voice from his isolation box. Unable to break his indomitable will, his faith in God, and his trust in the United States of America and his fellow prisoners, Captain Versace was executed by the Viet Cong on 26 September 1965.

Captain Versace’s extraordinary heroism, self-sacrifice, and personal bravery involving conspicuous risk of life above and beyond the call of duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Army, and reflect great credit to himself and the U.S. Armed Forces.

Here are important links regarding Rocky:

A SOLDIERS STORY - A FILM ABOUT ROCKY [20 Minute online, Requires RealPlayer]

MEDAL OF HONOR RECOMMENDATION STAFF STUDY

FRIENDS OF ROCKY VERSACE

ALEXANDRIA VIETNAM MEMORIAL AND CAPTAIN ROCKY VERSACE PLAZA

[oc-flyfish]

Wow... first I have heard of this (tear in the eyes). Talk about a true American! Bump!

[Jeff Head]

Absolutely ... we need to FLOOD the President with emails/notes/letters reagrding this ... to cement this much deserved and long awaited recognition.

Write today!

[Jeff Head]

Hope ou got to look at the film.

Please write the President and encourage him to sign the current Defense Approporiation Bill which includes Rocky's MOH!

[Jeff Head]

Hope you got to look at the film.

Please write the President and encourage him to sign the current Defense Approporiation Bill which includes Rocky's MOH!

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

Hi Jeff:
Anyone interested in finding out a little about Rocky (Roque)Versace should read the book "Five Years to Freedom" by Mr. Rowe.

I read it and decided to name my new son Joseph Roque De Bella after Rocky.

Anyone would be proud to have someone as strong and and determined and patriotic as Rocky Versace as a son.

I hope everyone gets to know more about him.

Get the book. It is excellent.

[Jeff Head]

It is great news.

Much anticipated. We're one signature away now.

[isthisnickcool]

About time!

PS - Hope the book is going well!!!!

[Jeff Head]

Absolutely, the book by Col. Rowe is amazing!

James Rowe's story itself is a story of dedication, honor and valor. I revere him almost as much as Rocky ... they were brought together under the most extreme of circumstances and Rowe was true to the trust of the memory of those circumstances until the day he died ... also at the hands of communists.

God bless them both, God bless their memories, God rest their souls ... and God grant that we will always be blessed with such individuals amongst us, that we each will aspire to acquire such dedication and practise such honor, valor and virtue in our own lives.

[Jeff Head]

It IS about time ... but I am grateful to be witnessing it.

WRT my book ... sales continue. Not really brisk, but they are there and people are looking at it. We hope to hear positive news from one of the many reviews and editors after the holidays.

In the mean time, I am committed to carrying forward on my own if necessary. Thanks for asking.

[thermodynamics]

This is great to see... since we give them out to UN-deserving people like O'Grady. If you get a chance, look at everything he did. The air force uses his event of HOW NOT TO FLY IN COMBAT....And what stupid mistakes not to make when shot down. Well deserved may this Patriot rest in Peace.

[rangerX]

Outstanding news!..About time.

[Jeff Head]

I can't speak to the example you cite ... but I will look at it.

I can say that Rocky deserves it and that those who have been dedicated to seeing this accomplished are deserving of our utmost respect as well, particularly Col. Rowe. A more dedicated and truer individual would be difficult to find. May he rest in peace as well.

If you get a chance, take a look at the fil linked to above. It's got great footage of Rowe and others talking about their experiences.

[Jeff Head]

Sorry for the typo ... that's film.

here's the link:

A SOLDIER'S STORY - A FILM ABOUT ROCKY VERSACE

Regards.

[Jeff Head]

Yes it is ... outstanding and about time. I am so glad and humbled to see it happen ... a littoral answer to prayer for many, and a culmination of dedicated, sustained, long lasting effort to see that the right thing was done for so many others as well.

BUMP BTTT

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

I loved the part where Rowe trained the Eagles.

[Dukie]

What an inspiring story, Jeff. I can hardly imagine GWB not approving the nomination, but I will send my note to the WH too.

[carenot]

Thanks for the ping.

Bump for Rocky.

[Jeff Head]

Rowe himself was a true American hero. He requested the opportunity to write the book from the President and then he went off and did it. He was true to his trust until his death ... and like Rocky, he died in service to his country and to those beset by the evils of Communism.

I have always really respected and honored his description of Rocky:

"For that guy, duty, honor, country was a way of life. He was the finest example of an officer I have known. To him it was a matter of liberty or death, the big four and nothing more. There was no other way for him. Once, Rocky told our captors that as long as he was true to God and true to himself, what was waiting for him after this life was far better than anything that could happen now. So he told them that they might as well kill him then and there if the price of his life was getting more from him than name, rank, and serial number.

I’m satisfied that he would have it no other way. I know that he valued that one moment of honor more than he would have a lifetime of compromises."

Hope you and yours are blessed with a joyous holiday season and a prosperius new year.

[Jeff Head]

Neither can I, but it is attached to the Defense Appropriations Bill and there are a couple of things in that bill the administration didn't get their way on ... I believe they didn't get all of the base closings they were looking for.

I hope the President will set that aside for the other things the bill does accomplish, not the least of which is this long overdue recognition of a true American hero.

You should be getting a package today or tomorrow.

[Jeff Head]

You are very welcome ... BUMP!