Posted on 08/05/2005 4:16:13 AM PDT by Coop
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...
(Excerpt) Read more at heroesandtraitors.org ...
Thirty years later Joe's fellow veterans, dismayed that he had not been properly recognized for his valor, began a campaign to have "Crazy Joe" considered for the Medal of Honor. For another five years bureaucracy moved at glacial speed, with little apparent hope for a successful resolution. Then in 2003 Dr. Aaron Ard tried to again break through the red tape with a poignant letter to the Secretary of the Navy (excerpts posted above)...
And in stark contrast: Kerry got three purple hearts for nothing.
Joe Vitale and the thousands of genuine heroes of Vietnam on one side, vs Kerry, who viciously slandered his own side to get further up the greasy pole of politics. It's proof of the still-considerable power of the MSM that Kerry isn't in prison for treachery.
Ping
You've got that right. And the media still doesn't get it. 250+ veterans were all "liars" for daring to say something negative about a veteran. The hypocrisy never ceases to amaze me. But there's a reason why Kerry got his butt handed to him from the military/veteran voting bloc last November.
HEY MOH!! Are you around?? Is this your guy??
I attended Squadron Officer's School in the Fall of '68. At our first formal Dining In there was great deal of hub bub around one of the school staff officers. A que formed and as we made our way through this receiving line we could see that pale blue ribbon with the white stars. It's a rare ocassion when you can shake the hand and say "Thank You" to a Medal of Honor recipient!
And salute them!
A salute says that you have nothing in your right hand and you "tip you hat" at the same time. A handshake shows that you have nothing in your right hand and your greeting is upfront and personal.
Not true. It depends on circumstances and what service one belongs to.
Looks like moh hasn't been around here (posting anyways) in over six weeks. Good ping, though. Thanks.
Well, maybe you wouldn't, but any time I encounter a MOH holder, enlisted or officer, regardless of rank, regardless of location, I will render a salute.
Besides a handshake and a Thank You says the same thing!
He'll get that also, but in the military, the closeness of those that have "been there, seen that" surpasses a hand shake and a Thank You and the rendering of a salute has a unique meaning, circumstances considered.
He has been specifically researching and trying to get the MOH awarded to SOMEONE and this name rings a bell. I'm not positive though!!!
Sounds like it could be the same one.
.
England's new KING ARTHUR:
America's new Hero for the new Millennium:
911 Lifesaving Hero:
....RICK RESCORLA, r.i.p.
http://www.RickRescorla.com
http://www.Strategyzoneonline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=24361
Thought you might like this.
I hope Joe is finally awarded the MOH. Truly a hero.
M-14. Back when we had a KILLING RIFLE!
Dad and I were talking about that last night. How (acc to those in the field) the M16A1 used to frequently jam in the jungle environment, so many warriors preferred the M-14. I fired it while in Scotland. Nice weapon.
Either of you know this fine fellow?
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