Jon R. Cavaiani Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Jon Robert Cavaiani
Cavaiani in 2004
Born	(1943-08-02)August 2, 1943 Murphys, County Offaly, Ireland
Died	July 29, 2014(2014-07-29) (aged 70) Stanford, California, United States
Buried	Arlington National Cemetery
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	1969–1990
Rank	Sergeant Major
Unit	5th Special Forces Group 10th Special Forces Group MACV-SOG Delta Force
Battles/wars	Vietnam War
Awards	Medal of Honor Legion of Merit Bronze Star Purple Heart

Jon Robert Cavaiani (August 2, 1943 – July 29, 2014) was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions in the Vietnam War.

Biography

Cavaiani was born in Murphys, County Offaly, Ireland, and went to England a short time afterwards.

He left England for the United States in 1947, and in 1953 moved to the small farming community of Ballico, California to be with his stepfather, Ugo Cavaiani.

In 1961 Ugo formally adopted Jon and in 1968 he became a naturalized citizen of the United States. In 1969, Cavaiani joined the US Army. In 1970, he was deployed to Vietnam with the Special Forces and by June 4, 1971, was serving as a Staff Sergeant in Task Force 1 Advisory Element, USARV Training Advisory Group. This unit was formerly known as Command and Control North, MACV-SOG. On that day, in the Republic of Vietnam, his platoon came under intense enemy attack at Hill 950. Cavaiani organized the unit's defense and, when evacuation by helicopter became necessary, he voluntarily stayed on the ground and directed the aircraft, which successfully evacuated most of the platoon. Cavaiani and a small group were left behind. During 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. He was captured and spent the next two years as a prisoner of war.

Jon R. Cavaiani was released during Operation Homecoming in March 1973. President Gerald Ford presented Cavaiani with the Medal of Honor during a ceremony on December 12, 1974.

His other assignments included tours of duty in the Middle East, South America, Europe and Southeast Asia.

Cavaiani spent three years in Berlin, Germany as the Senior Operations Sergeant Major for British, French and U.S. Forces. From August 1980 to May 1983, Cavaiani served with the 10th Special Forces Group at Fort Devens, Massachusetts, followed by service with the 11th Special Forces Group at Fort Meade, Maryland from summer 1983 to summer 1984.

From 1984 to 1989, Cavaiani was assigned to the 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment – Delta (1st SFOD-D), or Delta Force at Fort Bragg, North Carolina culminating as the unit Command Sergeant-Major. He retired from the Army in May 1990.

Upon retiring, Cavaiani served as the 6th region director of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society.

He graduated with honors from the culinary arts program in Columbia, California, where he and his wife Barbara lived.

His numerous military decorations include the nation's highest award for valor, the Army Medal of Honor, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal with 'V' for Valor device and one Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart with one Oak Leaf Cluster, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal with 'V' for Valor device and three Oak Leaf Clusters and the Prisoner of War Medal.

Additionally, he was entitled to wear the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Pathfinder Badge and Master Parachutist Badge.

Cavaiani was a freefall and static line jumpmaster with over 5,000 jumps all over the world.

Cavaiani died on July 29, 2014, four days before his 71st birthday, in Stanford, California. He had myelodysplastic syndrome. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.