HEROES:MOH Recipient Jon Robert Cavaiani Traditional Cache
HEROES:MOH Recipient Jon Robert Cavaiani
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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While caching this summer across the U.S. we discovered a
“Power Cache” series in Nevada. There were 120
caches
placed along a dirt road and they were close enough for us to
log
100 caches in one day! It was a real thrill to log so many
caches
in one day… so we would like to give all of you the
opportunity to do the same.
We thought it would be nice to put these caches out for
Veterans
Day, so we chose 100 of the 246 Medal of Honor Recipients from
the
Vietnam War, and each one of the caches will honor one of
these
American Heroes. Of the 246 MOH Recipients from the Vietnam War
63%
were awarded posthumously. ( ** Represents MOH Awarded
Posthumously) Please take the time to read the citation for
each
and remember them this Veterans Day.
HAVE FUN!!
Jon Robert Cavaiani
Rank and organization: Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army, Vietnam
Training
Advisory Group, Republic of Vietnam. Place and date: Republic
of
Vietnam, 4 and 5 June 1971. Entered service at: Fresno,
Calif.
Born: 2 August 1943, Royston, England. Citation: 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
S 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.
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