Notable Cadets

269th Aviation Battalion, 1st Aviation Brigade, USARV

Bronze Star w/V for heroism in ground combat after his aircraft was disabled by enemy ground fire and forced to land. After landing in a rice paddy, First Lieutenant Coggeshall deployed his crew along a dike while they were still under heavy enemy fire. From this position, he directed the crew to engage the enemy to protect the aircraft and secure a pick-up (PZ) zone for an evacuation helicopter. During pauses in the firing, he directed the crew to strip the aircraft of radios and armaments and collected wounded from the supporting infantry unit. He then brought in the evacuation aircraft, still under enemy fire, and carried two wounded infantrymen to the rescue helicopter. With the loading of his crew wounded and equipment and armament from his helicopter the evacuation was complete.

Distinguished Flying Cross for heroism while performing a critical resupply and medical evacuation of wounded under intense enemy ground fire. After dropping off a case of smoke grenades, First Lieutenant Coggeshall orbited the landing zone until four wounded infantrymen were ready for pickup. After landing, he was forced to remain exposed to enemy fire due to difficulties in moving the wounded. During the 10 minutes in the landing zone, he was unable to return fire due to the disposition of friendly forces.

Distinguished Flying Cross (OLC) for heroism while supporting an infantry unit that had been ambushed and surrounded by the Viet Cong. First Lieutenant Coggeshall’s company was required to perform an emergency resupply mission at night to provide the beleaguered unit with aid. Lt. Coggeshall demonstrated outstanding flying ability and courage while repeatedly delivering ammunition and evacuating causalities during the battle.

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1st Battalion, 12th Infantry, 4th Infantry Division, USARV

Bronze Star w/Valor for heroism while leading his platoon near Pleiku. Attacked by the enemy, estimated to be of battalion size, Bracken ordered the platoon to take a defense position. He then took up a position atop an exposed rock formation where he could oversee the action. Despite receiving intense enemy fire, he directed defensive fire and adjusted artillery and mortar support. Bracken maintained his position until the enemy had been repulsed.

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13th Combat Aviation Battalion, 1st Aviation Brigade, USARV

Distinguished Flying Cross for heroism during an airmobile assault against a well-entrenched Viet Cong force.

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Advisory Team 27, Binh Dinh Province, USMACV

Bronze Star for heroism in the Binh Dinh Province. After coming under heavy fire from the Viet Cong, then First Lieutenant Bell moved quickly to the front. Despite heavy enemy fire, Bell provided covering fire for the treatment of the wounded and accurately directed artillery fire against the enemy. As the Viet Cong advanced, he conducted a delaying action, which allowed for the withdrawal of the remaining personnel.

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2nd Battalion (Airborne), 501st Infantry, 101st Airborne Division, USARV

Bronze Star w/V for heroism during a night ground and mortar attack by a battalion-sized enemy force. Realizing the defending force was significantly outnumbered he immediately adjusted both artillery and mortar counter-battery fire to neutralize the intensity of the enemy barrage. Without regard for his own safety, he moved under the increasing hail of mortar, small arms and automatic weapons fire to check every position along the perimeter in order not to be penetrated. Upon seeing a number of soldiers wounded by mortar fragments and small arms fire, he administered immediate first aid, moved them to a more sheltered location, and plugged holes in the perimeter with the little reserves available. He continued to adjust fires during the entire attack eventually silencing the enemy guns.

Air Medal w/V (OLC) for gallantry while confronting the enemy. Two battalion companies were in heavy contact with a large enemy force on the high ground. Neither unit could accurately fix the enemy positions because of the dense foliage, topography and triple canopy jungle. Captain Galda immediately took up position in a light observation helicopter (LOH) and provided fire direction to supporting artillery. With arrival tactical air and other aviation resources, he advanced through a hail of small arms, automatic weapons and RPG fire to mark several positions for effective delivery of ordnance. The aircraft was hit several times. The enemy held their positions despite accurate placement of the munitions, and he again went in at tree top level under intense enemy fire and marked the targets for diesel drums drops which broke the enemy resistance and caused them to flee, as both battalion companies advanced up the hill.

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1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, USARV

Army Commendation Medal w/V for heroism during a ground combat against well entrenched enemy snipers attempting to interfere with the effectiveness of a cordon and search operation. Because of the spatial inter-mixing of friendly and enemy forces, the use of heavy weapons was impossible. Captain Livolsi exposed himself to enemy fires in order to control friendly fires against them, so as to not impact friendly personnel. He personally engaged enemy snipers positions with an M-79 grenade launcher and hand grenades repeatedly, intermittently directing treatment and evacuation of wounded personnel. His leadership and determination inspired those around him and was instrumental to the defeat of the enemy force and success of the overall operation.

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4th Battalion, 12th Infantry, 199th Infantry Brigade (Separate) (Light)

Bronze Star w/V for heroism during a Viet Cong attack during a sweeping operation north of Saigon. Without hesitation and with disregard for his own safety, Cassel continually maneuvered the squads of his unit to advantageous firing positions. When ordered to clear the enemy positions, his leadership inspired his men resulting in a successful attack.

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Team 162, 3rd Battalion (Airborne), Vietnamese Airborne Brigade, USMACV

Bronze Star for heroism when under small arms and machine gun fire in Binh Dinh Province.

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1st Aviation Battalion, 1st Infantry Division, USARV

Distinguished Flying Cross for heroism during Operation Junction City about seven miles south of Katum. During a reconnaissance mission 1st Lt Vanderland responded to a call from a company that had been ambushed by the Viet Cong and were about to be routed by the Viet Cong. Upon his arrival on the scene, he recognized that artillery fire could not be used. Ignoring intense ground fire, he made numerous passes over the enemy and dropped phosphorous grenades. The Viet Cong scattered and Vanderland was able to evacuate two seriously wounded soldiers. When he returned to the battle, he marked the enemy's location for direct air strikes against them.

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Advisory Team 70 (3rd Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, 5th ARVN Infantry Division), USMACV

Bronze Star w/Valor for heroism while serving as an assistant battalion advisor during combat operations in the Lai Khe area. When the advancing unit he was with was fired on by three concealed snipers, 1LT Pavia personally attacked the enemy positions without hesitation. His actions resulted in one wounded enemy soldier and he personally captured a second. His selfless actions served to inspire the rest of the unit to advance and sweep through the enemy position and secure the area.

Bronze Star w/Valor (OLC) for heroism while serving as battalion advisor in the An Loc area. While engaged in a clearing operation 1LT Pavia and the unit he accompanied came under intense fire from an entrenched enemy force. Disregarding his own personal safety, he repeatedly exposed himself to enemy fire in order to rescue and move to safety wounded soldiers lying in exposed locations. Concurrently he gave tactical advice to the unit commander and helped to orchestrate suppressive fires to facilitate the unit to withdraw to move favorable terrain. His decisive actions were credited with saving the lives of over 200 ARVN soldiers.

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2nd Battalion (Airborne), 502d Infantry, 101st Airborne Division, USARV

Silver Star for his exemplary leadership, bravery and devotion to his men. On 16 May 1967, 1st Lt. Clifford was ordered to provide assistance to a beleaguered patrol in the Duc Pho, Quang Ngai Province. His mission was to evacuate casualties while maintaining contact with the enemy until reinforcements arrived. Upon making contact with the patrol, Clifford maneuvered his platoon to a location that allowed them to fire upon the enemy. Two attempts at rescuing a wounded man in an area exposed to heavy fire only resulted in more injuries. Clifford then ordered his men to provide covering fire while he charged through the area to reach the wounded man. He carried him to safety and administered medical aid. He returned to his platoon and then called for artillery and supporting fire in order to evacuate all of the wounded. As the medevac helicopter landed it came under heavy enemy fire and was forced to take off before the wounded could be loaded. Clifford deployed part of his platoon and personally directed fire on the enemy until the wounded could be evacuated.

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7th Battalion 13th Artillery, 41st Artillery Group, I Field Force, USARV

Silver Star for heroism while serving as a forward artillery observer. While directing artillery fire on a North Vietnamese regiment that had attacked A Company of the 50th Infantry, the Company Commander was mortally wounded. 1st Lieutenant Sheffler immediately assumed command and reorganized the company’s defenses as the enemy attacked. Although wounded by enemy rocket fire, he aided wounded soldiers, directed air strikes and artillery fire against the advancing enemy. When Company C arrived to relieve Company A, Sheffler, despite his wounds, stayed and continued to direct air strikes and artillery fire.

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H Troop, 17th Cavalry, 198th Infantry Brigade, Americal Division, USARV

Silver Star for gallantry in action against a hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam.

Bronze Star w/V. As part of a coordinated, multi-company-size force moving into position to establish a cordon operation against an unsuspecting enemy force, Captain Reasor’s troop was required to transit a known area of heavy enemy mining. The engineer company assigned the mission to clear the minefield could not complete the final 1000 meters to allow Reasor’s troop to move safely into position. Concurrently, an ARVN unit participating in the operation started to sweep the cordon objective area ahead of schedule, potentially compromising the entire operation due to the cordon not being fully formed. Without regard for his safety, Captain Reasor personally led the troop through the mined area, assumed his position in the cordon operation, and began to secure the fleeing personnel. Captain Reasor’s disregard for his own safety, dedication to the mission and personal bravery were essential elements to the success of the overall operation.

Walter Reasor attended the Perkiomen School and became interested in all things military. This brought him to PMC. As a talented drummer, he became an integral part of HQ Company (the PMC Marching and Concert Band), which was his first passion. Walt was the Tenor Drum Section Head of the PMC Band’s Drum Line. In one traditional PMC Halloween (anything goes) Parade, Section Head Reasor had the Tenor Drummers wear tartan bathrobes (as makeshift kilts), Full Dress Alfa multi-brass-buttoned Cadet jackets, and Cadet overseas caps modified with Cadet neckties (as cap tails) as quasi-Pipe and Drum Band uniforms. He received high marks for his creativity that evening. Cadet Reasor met Elizabeth Carol Fry at a church social at the end of his 4th Class (Freshman year). From that meeting he became a member of the “Elizabeth Carol Fry Fraternity” and spent most of his time at PMC with her and, subsequently, twenty-five years of marriage. As a Cadet, the members of HQ Company considered him to be a man who took “Duty, Honor and Country” seriously.

After his graduation in 1964, LT Reasor joined the 197th Infantry Brigade and was then assigned to an experimental program where he did not go to basic training and was immediately assigned to the 3rd Armor Division in Germany. In 1967, he assumed command of F Company, an independent tank company. He converted this unit to H Troop, 17th Cavalry, which then was assigned to the 198th Infantry Brigade. The 198th Brigade was subsequently deployed to Vietnam and assigned to the Chu Lai area of operations. The AO was located 56 miles south of Da Nang. Its assignment was to conduct “Search and Destroy” missions. This was a region of dried open rice paddies and considered to be controlled by the Viet Cong. Specialist Michael George wrote that H Troop would rarely see the enemy, but knew they could be anywhere to ambush them.

On the evening of 26 May 1968, five armored assault vehicles of H Troop, 17th Cavalry, were bivouacked and arrayed in their night defensive perimeter. That evening, the Viet Cong began a rocket attack against the brigade and commenced a ground assault of H Troop. Captain Reasor’s unit engaged the Viet Cong with automatic weapons fire. The Viet Cong then responded by attacking H Troop’s night perimeter with small arms and anti-tank weapons. Almost immediately, one Troop vehicle exploded from a direct hit. Captain Reasor immediately left his Command vehicle and rushed to aid the wounded. He then climbed atop of crippled track, repaired a damaged 50-caliber machine gun and used it to return suppressing fire. Once the attack has been repelled and the wounded air lifted to safety, Captain Reasor organized H Troop into a blocking position. For his “Extraordinary Heroism in Close Combat against two Hostile Forces,” Captain Reasor was awarded the Silver Star Medal.

Captain Reasor’s final assignment was as an ROTC instructor at PMC in 1969. Although involved in student life, as the end of the Corps approached, he became disillusioned with changes in the school and resigned. In the early 1990’s, he succumbed to a terrible disease that may have been caused by exposure to Agent Orange.

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229th Aviation Battalion (Assault Helicopter), 1st Air Cavalry, USARV

Distinguished Flying Cross for his heroism and voluntary action during a medical evacuation mission near Hue. Upon learning that an infantrymen had become seriously wounded by an exploding artillery round, and despite a fluid and dangerous ground tactical situation as well as low visibility forcing nap of the earth flying in an urban setting to avoid the numerous buildings and radio towers surrounding the pick-up location, Captain Allanach accomplished the evacuation and safely got the soldier who received life-saving medical treatment.

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3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry, 196th Light Infantry Brigade, USARV

Bronze Star w/Valor for heroism during Operation “Cedar Falls.” 1st Lt. Burch’s unit was searching a known Viet Cong village when they came under fire from underground positions north of the village. Under enemy fire, Lt. Burch moved forward and engaged the fleeing enemy. Remaining in this exposed area, he added his fire to that of two other members of the forward unit, and exposed and killed the Viet Cong.

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Advisory Team 3, Thua Thien Province, USMACV

Silver Star for heroism during an enemy attack in the Nam Hoa District Compound of Thua Thien Province of Vietnam. As the attack began, Captain Bell directed defensive fire from an observation tower. From his position he also observed the enemy conducting a ground and rocket attack on the city of Hue. Due to his leadership and quick thinking, the attack was repulsed. He then repositioned himself and personally fired on these enemy sites with a recoilless rifle. After his position came under enemy fire and despite shrapnel wounds from several near misses, Bell moved his position and destroyed the enemy sites.

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Joseph D. Newsome
Class of 1961
145th Aviation Battalion, 1st Aviation Brigade, USARV

Distinguished Flying Cross for heroism For heroism in aerial flight as the pilot of an armed helicopter during the savage Battle of Dong Xoai in 1965. During the initial assault into what became an intensely hot LZ to include mortar fire into the landing area, Captain Newsome provided suppressive fire unto the flanks of the LZ allowing assaulting personnel to respond to the enemy attack. When one of the troop carrying aircraft was disabled by a mortar round and crashed, Captain Newsome without regard for his own safety and under extremely heavy fire, attempted to rescue the crew. During that descent he was hit by another mortar round, and just before touch-down the damaged helicopter on the ground exploded. At that point Captain Newsome broke his approach and provided suppressive fire for the ARVN unit and their advisors. His further attempts to rescue American advisors ended when the Viet Cong directed their fire into the advisors’ position and the unit became overwhelmed by the enemy force. With no communications in his aircraft, little remaining ammunition or gas, and a very damaged ship he reluctantly broke contact and departed the area.

228th Aviation Battalion (Assault Support Helicopter) (Airmobile) 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile), USARV

Distinguished Flying Cross with OLC for heroism above and beyond the call of duty in aerial flight, while serving as a flight leader during Operation Delaware in the A Shau Valley in early 1968. During that period the anti-aircraft defenses and troop concentrations in the A Shau Valley were not equaled anywhere in Vietnam, and maneuver units frequently found themselves in emergency situations as a result. Despite these facts and also that numerous aircraft had been lost that day in attempting to resupply an engaged unit, Major Newsome repeatedly flew into a hostile LZ to delivery critical ammunition and other critical supplies essential to the survival of that unit and the success of the operation. Each approach was under fire.

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Advisory Team 75, 2nd Battalion, 12th Regiment, 7th Infantry Division, (ARVN), USMACV

Bronze Star w/Valor for valorous actions. While serving as an advisor within the 2nd Battalion, a reinforced Viet Cong battalion ambushed and overwhelmed the Vietnamese troops. While some Vietnamese troops withdrew under the heavy fire, Lt. Baim remained calm and directed the Vietnamese commander to regroup and counterattack. The counterattack resulted in breaking the assault of the Viet Cong attack.

Interview conducted by New York State Military Museum: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIK_yJ8V6yI 

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2nd Battalion (Airborne), 327th Infantry, 101st Airborne Division, USAFE

Distinguished Service Cross for gallantry in action against enemy forces on 13 August 1967. While commanding a helicopter assault into enemy territory, he directed the battalion helicopters to fly low, to make direct strikes against enemy targets. Several helicopters were shot down, and his craft suffered hits. But he and his men landed at the designated place.

On the ground, he moved to avoid sniper fire while directing a team to extinguish a fire started by a smoke grenade in nearby elephant grass. He ignored enemy machine-gun fire and shrapnel to evacuate a soldier suffering from smoke inhalation and another overcome by heat exposure.
Through the night, he continued to repel enemy forces and direct a move to safer ground — all the while exposing himself to enemy fire and rallying his men.

Bronze Star w/V for heroism during an action against a well dug in Viet Cong unit. When LTC Abood learned that one of his platoons were pinned down, he flew to the battle area by helicopter and assisted with artillery fire on the enemy positions. Although a Medevac helicopter was unable to fly due to damage from hostile fire, Abood ordered his helicopter to land and extract the wounded. He then joined the platoon giving them encouragement and directing return fire. His presence and leadership inspired the platoon and they routed the entrenched enemy.

Air Medal w/V for heroism in aerial flight by providing night navigation support to a rifle company on the ground attempting to link up with another unit under heavy enemy fire. To overcome the visibility limiting effects of darkness and triple canopy jungle, LTC Abood ordered the aircraft to hover, with lights on, over the designated link up point. This action caused enemy gunners to unleash a heavy volume of fire at the aircraft which maintained its’ position while employing evasive maneuver until the ground commander could locate the link up point and effect contact with the unit in contact.

Army Commendation Medal w/V for heroism in ground combat by providing leadership under fire and assisting a platoon leader in securing a landing zone in high elephant grass under fire. Under his mentorship the LZ was secured and the enemy fire silenced.

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2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry, 4th Infantry Division USAFE

Silver Star for gallantry, initiative and courage. As the 4ID moved inland from Normandy, the Germans offered stiff resistance, but there was no counterattack until June 14. During a furious German charge, Major Burk took emergency command of Company E. Through his own initiative and daring leadership he ably led his troops in repulsing the German attack.

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