Posted on 12/21/2001 6:30:52 AM PST by 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:
Here are important links regarding Rocky:The President of the United States of America in the name of The Congress takes pride in presenting the Medal of Honor posthumously to: 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.CAPTAIN HUMBERT ROQUE VERSACE
UNITED STATES ARMYCITATION:
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.
A SOLDIERS STORY - A FILM ABOUT ROCKY [20 Minute online, Requires RealPlayer]
MEDAL OF HONOR RECOMMENDATION STAFF STUDY
ALEXANDRIA VIETNAM MEMORIAL AND CAPTAIN ROCKY VERSACE PLAZA
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.
Thank you so much for flagging me to this! I will pass it to all I know and send my letter tomorrow!
Sabertooth, please, could you use your ping list on this one? Thank you both!
"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."
Cannot add to that at all ... there is no need.
No need to add anything...except a bump! And a ping!
I was so gratified to hear this. I talked to Duane Frederic this morning (he wrote the Staff Study used to help document and underscore the official request) and he informed me of the latest.
A wonderful Christmas present to America and to the memory of a truly great American and heretofore unsung hero.
Perhaps now his story of heroism, patriotism and valor will no longer be unsung.
BTTT
BTTT
I wish Doug Miller were still alive to see this happen. Hell,I just wish he were still alive. He spent thousands of dollars of his own money and untold hours of time visiting DC and trying to get this done. He and LTC Bob Howard were both involved in this,and both men knew a little something themselves about what it takes to be a hero. Bob Howard is the most decorated American soldier in HISTORY. More valor awards than Sgt Alvin York and Lt.Audie Murphy combined. Of course,he and Doug both are MOH winners.
BTW,if Bubba Bush doesn't sign this,he might as well go ahead and wipe his ass on the flag. I can't think of anything he could do that would be more disrespectful of America than not take the trouble to sign a simple document that would FINALLY give recogonition to one of the bravest and patriotic young heroes this or any other nation has ever known. I still get teary-eyed at the thought of Rocky stuck down in his hole in the rain the morning they came to execute him,singing God Bless America at the top of his lungs to inspire the other POW's while he waited for his executioners. THERE,by God was a hero and a MAN!
Thank you. That is the ultimate form of tribute,and the type of thing Rocky deserves. In MY opinion,it is a damn shame that every high schooler in this country doesn't know the names of Americans like Rocky. While they may know the full arrest records of pathetic losers like Snoop Doggy Dog,I doubt a more than a handful in the whole country even recogonize the names Audie Murphy or Alvin York. It's not only their loss,but the country's loss,too. My generation had REAL heroes to look up to.
Yea, you old farts were real lucky. LOL
Perhaps now, with his MOH and with the Plaza, we can start down the path of getting his name and his deeds the visibility and recognition they so richly deserve ... and that our nation so desparetly needs.
May felings about the good dieing young are best summed up by an old cowboy poem:
I've heard it said, so it must be true,
"that only the good die young" ...
Well, tough old cusses like me aint dead,
no, we'll stay 'til the last dog's hung.
Regards and God's best to you and yours for the hildays and throughout the new year.
And God rest Rocky's soul and that of James Rowe and the others of his compatriots who worked so hard for this day.
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