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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 machinegun fire. By his heroic conduct on the battlefield,
and his inspiring example, Lt. Capodanno upheld the finest traditions of the U.S.
Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life in the cause of freedom.

The 04 Sep engagement described in Chaplain Capodanno's Citation occurred at
Chau Lam (1), 5 kilometers east of Que Son, during Operation SWIFT. Seventeen
Marines and sailors are known to have died in the engagement:

x H&S Co, 3rd Bn, 5th Marines
o LT Vincent R. Capodanno, Honolulu, HI (Medal of Honor)
o HM3 Armando G. Leal, San Antonio, TX (Navy Cross)
o HN James C. O'Reilly, Brighton, MA

x M Co, 3rd Bn, 5th Marines
o Sgt Lawrence D. Peters, Binghamton, NY (Medal of Honor)
o LCpl Jack A. Berry, Lubbock, TX
o LCpl Steven T. Cornell, New York, NY
o LCpl Thomas W. Fisher, Allentown, PA (Navy Cross)
o LCpl Andrew M. Giordano, Smithtown, NY (Silver Star)
o LCpl Richard Guerrero, Corpus Christi, TX
o LCpl Albert W. Santos, Fall River, MA
o Pfc Dennis F. Fisher, Alta Loma, CA
o Pfc Tony E. Gabaldon, Reedley, CA
o Pfc Raymond G. Hengels, Downers Grove, IL
o Pfc Charles F. Martin, Littleton, CO
o Pfc James C. McKenzie, Yorba Linda, CA
o Pfc Gene A. Mortensen, Salt Lake City, UT
o Pfc Steven J. Wright, Norco, CA

Father Capodonno died in an effort to assist
Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Armando Leal
HM3 Leal received a posthumous Navy Cross for his heroism that day.

29 Jan 2007

Fr. Vincent Capodanno also has several chapels named after him Marine Corps
wide. One of these is the Blessed Sacrament Chapel located outside St. Andrew's
Crypt Chapel in the basement deck of the United States Naval Academy Chapel.
Visitors to the Naval Academy are encouraged to visit the chapel.

Major W. George Dragan, USMCR

Never Forget
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© 2017 VVA Chapter 421