Rank: Specialist 4
Unit: L Troop, 3rd Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment
MOS: 11D – Armor Reconnaissance Specialist
Awards: Bronze Star Medal with Valor Device, Purple Heart Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Badges: Combat Infantryman Badge
Unit awards: Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm device
Enlisted by: Selected Service
Date of birth: 28-Nov-1947
Hometown: Downers Grove, Illinois
Marital status: Never Married
Campaign: Vietnam Conflict
Entered service: 5-Aug-1968
Start of tour: 10-Jan-1969
Incident date: 24-Nov-1969
Date of casualty: 24-Nov-1969
Age at death: 21
Cause of death: Hostile, Died. Grenade. Multiple fragmentation wounds.
John Joseph Adduci was killed while commander of a military vehicle on a combat operation when a hostile force was encountered. / Track commander of Armored Cavalry Assault Vehicle (ACAV) on reconnaissance in force mission. Engaged hostile force in firefight.
Location of fatality: Phuoc Long, South Vietnam, XT 938 842
Place of interment: Queen of Heaven Catholic Cemetery, Hillside, Illinois, USA
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ARMY COMMENDATION MEDAL
WITH VALOR DEVICE
POSTHUMOUS
SPECIALIST FOUR JOHN JOSEPH ADDUCI
9 JULY 1969
L TROOP, 3rd SQUADRON
11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT
Specialist Four Adduci distinguished himself by heroism in connection with military operations against a hostile force on 9 July 1969 while serving as an assistant armored cavalry vehicle driver commander with Troop L, 3d Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date Troop L was conducting a reconnaissance mission when they were suddenly engaged in heavy contact with an unknown size North Vietnamese Army force. Specialist Adduci dismounted his vehicle and braved the barrage of enemy fire to check several bunkers to ensure that they had been neutralized. As he began his advance on one bunker, he came under a heavy volume of small arms and automatic weapons fire. He remained in an exposed position and assaulted the stronghold, killing two enemy soldiers. Specialist Four Adduci’s actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.
Headquarters, II Field Force Vietnam, General Orders No. 4132 (15 November 1969)