Sgt.
Maj. Jon R. Cavaiani Age 70
Medal
of Honor recipient
August 7, 2014
By J.D.
Leipold
Cavaiani received the Medal of Honor in 1974, from President
Gerald Ford for his actions in trying to fight off an overpowering number of
enemy forces who had attacked his security platoon camp within enemy-held territory,
on June 4-5, 1971. With complete disregard for himself, the
then-staff sergeant moved around the camp perimeter directing fire and
rallying the outgunned and outnumbered platoon in a desperate fight for
survival. He also used a variety of weapons to return suppressive fire. When
the platoon was to be evacuated, Cavaiani
voluntarily remained to direct three helicopters in to evacuate a major part
of the platoon. The remainder of his Special Forces
platoon was forced to stay in camp overnight, expecting to be evacuated the
next morning. On the morning of June 5, due to low, heavy ground fog, the
helicopters were unable to retrieve the remainder of the platoon. The superior enemy force launched a major
ground attack in an attempt to annihilate the remaining Soldiers. As they
advanced in two ranks, firing a heavy volume of small arms automatic weapons,
throwing hand grenades and firing rocket-propelled grenades. The 27-year-old Cavaiani ordered the remaining platoon members to escape,
then tried to hold off the enemy with grenades and a machine gun which he
swept back and forth along the two ranks. Cavaiani played dead as the North Vietnamese took what was
nicknamed Hickory Hill, and then hid in the jungle for nearly two weeks
before he was captured. He suffered more than 100 shrapnel wounds and bullet
holes. Cavaiani spent nearly two years as a POW in
solitary confinement for the remainder of the war. He was repatriated to the
U.S. in April 1973 and continued to serve most of his 21-year career training
Special Forces Soldiers at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Born in Royston, England, in 1943, as Jon
Robert Lemmons, to an American and an English
woman, he and his mother ventured west in the early 1950s, settling in the
tiny farming community of Ballico, California. He
took his stepfather's surname after being adopted, according to a Washington
Post article. Shortly after becoming a naturalized U.S.
citizen, in 1969, Cavaiani tried to enlist, but was
considered unfit, known as 4F at the time, due to a severe allergy to bee
stings. Later he persuaded an Army doctor to find him fit for duty. After
more than 20 years of service, he retired in 1990, as a sergeant major. After he left the Army, Cavaiani attended culinary school and became a farmer,
settling with wife Barbara in Columbia, California. He was inducted into the
Special Forces Hall of Fame, in 2011. Cavaiani wasn't one to draw attention to himself by wearing the
Medal of Honor in uniform, according to media sources. One Special Forces
Soldier served with Cavaiani for more than a year
before finding out his NCO held the highest military medal for valor. When he asked the sergeant major what the
story was on the medal, a humble Cavaiani answered
simply with, "I was in the wrong place at the wrong time." However, Cavaiani
did draw attention to the Soldiers he had fought with; the ones who didn't
return from Southeast Asia. In 2011, Cavaiani and
two battle buddies returned to Vietnam, 40 years after the battle in search
of the remains of Sgt. John R. Jones, whose body had never been recovered.
His remains were found and Jones was buried at Arlington National Cemetery,
Virginia, in 2012. Cavaiani will be interred at Arlington National Cemetery,
though a date has not yet been announced. [This came from the Ratnet (RiverRats)] Dates for the services for Jon Cavaiani. They are as
follows: |
