THE WALL OF FACES

In an act of heroism above and beyond the call of duty, this American gave his life so that others might live. We honor his memory and sacrifice by preserving the torch of liberty that has been passed to us.

LIEUTENANT

VINCENT ROBERT CAPODANNO

UNITED STATES NAVY

CHAPLAIN CORPS


<><><><> CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR <><><><>


who was serving with the


3rd BATTALION

5th MARINES

1ST MARINE DIVISION ( REINFORCED )

FLEET MARINE FORCE


and was a posthumous recipient of the


CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR


who now rests in honored glory in


SAINT PETER'S CEMETERY


STATEN ISLAND, NEW YORK


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CITATION

FOR AWARD OF THE

CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR


QUANG TIN PROVINCE

REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM

4 SEPTEMBER 1967


For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as Chaplain of the Third Battalion - Fifth Marines - First Marine Division (Reinforced), in connection with operations against enemy forces in the vicinity of Quang Tin Province, Republic of Vietnam, on 4 September 1967. In response to reports that the Second Platoon of ' M ' Company was in danger of being overrun by a massed enemy assaulting force, LT VINCENT ROBERT CAPODANNO left the relative safety of the company command post and ran through an open area raked with fire, directly to the beleagured platoon. Disregarding the intense enemy small arms, automatic weapons, and mortar fire, he moved about the battlefield administering last rites to the dying and giving medical aid to the wounded. When an exploding mortar round inflicted painful multiple wounds to his arms and legs, and severed a portion of his right hand, he steadfastly refused all medical aid. Instead, he directed the corpsman to help their wounded comrades, and, with calm vigor, continued to move about the battlefield as he provided encouragement by voice and example to the valiant marines. Upon encountering a wounded corpsman in the direct line of fire of an enemy machine gun positioned approximately fifteen yards away,LT Capodanno rushed in a daring attempt to aid and assist the mortally wounded corpsman. At that instant, only inches from his goal, he was struck down by a burst of machine gun fire. By his heroic conduct on the battlefield, and his inspiring example, LT Capodanno upheld the finest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
He gallantly gave his life for his country.





THE PROUD YOUNG VALOR THAT ROSE ABOVE THE MORTAL

AND THEN, AT LAST, WAS MORTAL AFTER ALL





YOU ARE NOT FORGOTTEN

NOR SHALL YOU EVER BE



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MILITARY DECORATIONS AWARDED TO

FATHER

VINCENT ROBERT CAPODANNO


CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR

BRONZE STAR MEDAL with 'V' for VALOR device

NAVY COMMENDATION MEDAL

PURPLE HEART MEDAL with 3 gold stars



************************************************************



CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR


was presented to his family

on 7 January 1969

at the

Washington Navy Yard

by the

Secretary of the United States Navy

Paul R. Ignatius

OPERATION SWIFT - 4-15 SEPTEMBER 1967 ---


In the Que Son Valley, 3/ 5 and 1 / 5 were engaged with the 2nd NVA Division and the
1st VC Regiment. Along with us was the chaplain of the 3 / 5, Father VINCENT
ROBERT CAPODANNO. During heavy fighting and twice severely wounded, Chaplain
Capodanno continued tirelessly, going from one wounded and dying Marine to another
offering whatever aid and comfort he could. He refused medevac twice, not wanting to
leave his grunts, saying that he had work to do. After giving last rites to one Marine he
carried that man's M-16 to another Marine whose weapon had jammed. Chaplain
Capodanno left the perimeter to aid a wounded corpsman and three or four other Marines.

He was by the corpsman's side when an NVA machine gunner opened fire and riddled
Father Capodanno from the back of his head to the base of his spine, his third PURPLE
HEART of the day and later the award of the MEDAL OF HONOR.

Chaplain Capodanno had only been with 3 / 5 a few short weeks having been
transferred from 1 / 7. He had been recommended for the BRONZE STAR in May
of 1967 for his time with them.

He had been on an extended tour in country from April 1966 to May 1967.

He returned again in June 1967 and was again requesting an extension, or
permission, to giveup his R & R to be with his grunts for the holidays, when he was killed.

There are 38 memorials in the name of Father Capodanno, including chapels at the
United States Naval Academy and Camp Pendleton, and around the world, and a
destroyer escort.

Also, there is a movement to have Father Vincent Robert Capodanno canonized.

In December 2000, " THE GRUNT PADRE: THE SERVICE AND SACRIFICE OF
FATHER VINCENT CAPODANNO, VIETNAM 1967 ", by Father Daniel Lawrence
Mode, a United States Navy Chaplain, will be published. All royalties from the
sales will be used to support the FATHER VINCENT ROBERT CAPODANNO
FOUNDATION, a non-profit organization established by the author to honor the
memory of this chaplain and to continue his ministry of outreach to his beloved
grunt Marines.

More information will be available in the near future on the Foundation website.

To order copies of the book.....

contact T.J. HANLEY at (281) 3247026 or [email protected]

Father Capodanno - Your memory lives on in my heart and now those around me. Our new Knights of Columbus 4th Degree Assembly has been named in your honor. Its a long way back to Hill 10 and Hill 55 but not so far that I will ever forget you and all that you did for the 7th Marines. May God eternally bless you for the supreme sacrafice you made. Semper Fi.

Skip "Doc" Munger
7th Marines April 67-68

i served on this heros namesake the uss capodanno de 1093. he surely deserved to have a fighting ship named after him,as he fought gallently in his own way.