Medal of Honor: Jon R. Cavaiani - Vietnam War - June 4-5, 1971

Name: Jon R. Cavaiani
Rank: Staff Sergeant
Branch: U.S. Army
War: Vietnam War
Unit: Vietnam Training Advisory Group
Date of Action: June 4-5, 1971
Location: Republic of Vietnam

Summary of Action

On 4 June 1971, Staff Sergeant Jon R. Cavaiani displayed extraordinary heroism while serving as platoon leader of a security force defending an isolated radio relay site deep within enemy-controlled territory.

That morning, the camp was suddenly engulfed by an intense assault as a numerically superior enemy force unleashed a devastating barrage of small arms fire, automatic weapons, rocket-propelled grenades, and mortars.

Ignoring the deadly fire sweeping across the position, Cavaiani repeatedly moved around the exposed perimeter, directing his soldiers' fire, rallying defenders whose positions were under attack, and personally engaging the enemy with every available weapon.

When evacuation helicopters arrived, the deteriorating situation made each landing increasingly hazardous.

Without hesitation, Cavaiani volunteered to remain behind and direct the aircraft into the landing zone while the rest of his men boarded.

His calm leadership enabled the first three helicopters to evacuate most of the platoon.

As enemy fire intensified, however, further extraction became impossible, leaving Cavaiani and a small group of defenders isolated through the night.

Rather than surrender, he organized the remaining soldiers and supervised the strengthening of their defensive positions in preparation for another attack.

At dawn on 5 June, thick ground fog limited visibility just as the enemy launched a massive ground assault.

Advancing in two coordinated ranks, one line poured automatic weapons and rocket-propelled grenade fire into the defenders while the second advanced behind them throwing a continuous stream of hand grenades.

Cavaiani answered with rifle fire and grenades of his own but recognized the position could not hold.

He ordered his remaining men to escape while he stayed behind to cover their withdrawal.

Recovering a machine gun, he deliberately stood upright in full view of the advancing enemy and swept the weapon across their ranks despite the concentrated fire directed at him.

His fearless stand inflicted heavy casualties and delayed the assault long enough for most of his surviving comrades to break contact and escape.

Although wounded numerous times during the action, Staff Sergeant Cavaiani refused to abandon his post until his mission was complete.

His courage, leadership, and selfless determination reflected the highest traditions of the United States Army.

Medal of Honor Citation

CAVAIANI, JON R.

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 three 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 5 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 two 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 one 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 two 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.