Ex-POW Medal of Honor Vietnam Hero Jon Cavaiani Needs Help

Decorated Vietnam War Vet Faces Toughest Battle
NewsMax
By Geoff Metcalf
Monday, 15 Jul 2013

On June 4, 1971, as Jon Cavaiani was serving in the Vietnam War as a special forces officer, his platoon came under intense enemy attack. Cavaiani organized the unit's defense and, when evacuation by helicopter became necessary, he voluntarily stayed on the ground and directed the aircraft.

He successfully evacuated most of the platoon.

For Cavaiani and a small group that remained behind, the war would take a dark turn. As events took a turn for the worse, and after a major enemy attack the next morning, he ordered the remaining men to escape while he stayed and provided suppressive fire to cover their retreat.

When the position was overrun, although seriously wounded, he escaped and evaded the enemy for 11 days before eventually being captured and spening the next two years as a prisoner of war.

He was still listed as Missing in Action when his Medal of Honor was awarded. He was released on April 27, 1973.

Cavaiani served his country well. Now he needs our help. It is time we returned the favor. Cavaiani has been diagnosed with MSD, a chronic blood disease, and over the past four months, he has received many blood transfusions and chemotherapy treatments. He started his treatments at the VA Medial Center in San Francisco and the care they have provided has reportedly been outstanding.
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Oct 6, 2011
Staff Sergeant Jon Cavaiani organized and led an aggressive defense when his force came under fierce attack near Khe Sanh, South Vietnam, on June 4-5, 1971. He evaded capture for 11 days, but was eventually taken as a POW. When he was released in 1973, he heard that he had been recommended for the Medal of Honor. It was awarded to him on December 12, 1974.