HEROES:MOH Recipient **Nicholas J Cutinha Traditional Cache
HEROES:MOH Recipient **Nicholas J Cutinha
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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!!
Nicholas Joseph Cutinha
Rank and organization: Specialist Fourth Class, U.S. Army, Company
C, 4th Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division.
Place and date: Near Gia Dinh, Republic of Vietnam, 2 March 1968.
Entered service at: Coral Gables, Fla. Born: 13 January 1945,
Fernandina Beach, Fla. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and
intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the
call of duty. While serving as a machine gunner with Company C,
Sp4c. Cutinha accompanied his unit on a combat mission near Gia
Dinh. Suddenly his company came under small arms, automatic
weapons, mortar and rocket propelled grenade fire, from a battalion
size enemy unit. During the initial hostile attack, communication
with the battalion was lost and the company commander and numerous
members of the company became casualties. When Sp4c. Cutinha
observed that his company was pinned down and disorganized, he
moved to the front with complete disregard for his safety, firing
his machine gun at the charging enemy. As he moved forward he drew
fire on his own position and was seriously wounded in the leg. As
the hostile fire intensified and half of the company was killed or
wounded, Sp4c. Cutinha assumed command of all the survivors in his
area and initiated a withdrawal while providing covering fire for
the evacuation of the wounded. He killed several enemy soldiers but
sustained another leg wound when his machine gun was destroyed by
incoming rounds. Undaunted, he crawled through a hail of enemy fire
to an operable machine gun in order to continue the defense of his
injured comrades who were being administered medical treatment.
Sp4c. Cutinha maintained this position, refused assistance, and
provided defensive fire for his comrades until he fell mortally
wounded. He was solely responsible for killing 15 enemy soldiers
while saving the lives of at least 9 members of his own unit. Sp4c.
Cutinha's gallantry and extraordinary heroism were in keeping with
the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great
credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.
Additional Hints
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