Rank: Private First Class
Unit: Howitzer Battery, 3rd Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment
MOS: 82C – Field Artillery Surveyor
Awards: Bronze Star Medal with Valor Device, Purple Heart Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Unit awards: Valorous Unit Award, Meritorious Unit Citation, Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm device
Note: Forward Observer attached to L Troop, 3/11 ACR
Enlisted by: Selected Service
Date of birth: 3-Aug-1945
Hometown: Chicago, Illinois
Marital status: Never Married
Campaign: Vietnam Conflict
Entered service: 12-Nov-1965
Start of tour: 23-Aug-1966
Incident date: 21-Jul-1967
Date of casualty: 21-Jul-1967
Age at death: 21
Cause of death: Hostile, Died. Grenade. Multiple fragmentation wounds.
John Joseph Campa died as a result of metal fragment wound received when he engaged hostile force in firefight while passenger in a military vehicle on convoy.
Fourteen Blackhorse troopers died in this incident:
CPT William Forman Abernethy
PFC James Francis Bean
PFC John Joseph Campa
PFC Roosevelt C. Curley
SP4 Lawrence Michael Dawson
PFC George Arthur Foster
PVT Thomas Francis Ganion
PFC Douglas Wayne Hill
PFC Frank Daniel Leal
PFC Gary Alfred McLennan
PFC Billy Gene Rodgers
SP4 Richard James Schutz
1LT Ponder Ray Sims
PFC James Lemar Whitfield
Location of fatality: Long Khanh, South Vietnam, YT 430 308
Place of interment: Saint Benedict Catholic Cemetery, Crestwood, Illinois, USA
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BRONZE STAR MEDAL
WITH VALOR DEVICE
POSTHUMOUS
PRIVATE FIRST CLASS JOHN JOSEPH CAMPA
21 JULY 1967
HOWITZER BATTERY, 3rd SQUADRON
11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT
Private First Class Campa distinguished himself by valorous actions on 21 July 1967, while serving as a member of a Forward Observer Team participating in a road march along Highway 20. On this date, Private Campers column encountered an estimated reinforced battalion of well-armed Viet Cong who directed a withering barrage of RPG-2 rocket, recoilless rifle, automatic weapons and small arms fire upon the convoy. Realizing that the security of the entire column necessitated immediate action, Private Campa fearlessly manned an 14-60 machine gun and directed a devastating barrage of highly accurate and effective fire upon the fanatical attackers. At that moment, he was struck and critically injured by a burst of enemy fire. Undaunted, Private Campa completely disregarded the agonizing pain and refused to leave his post. Continuing to direct a lethal volley of fire upon the insurgents, he successfully repelled all enemy advancement toward his vehicle despite the numerical superiority of the Viet Cong. Private Campa steadfastly remained at his beleaguered position and provided invaluable suppressive fire for his comrades until he succumbed to his injuries. Private Campa’s spirited aggressiveness and self-sacrifice were an inspiration to all and contributed significantly to the overwhelming defeat of the enemy force. Private First Class Campa’s personal bravery and devotion to duty 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, 9th Infantry Division General Orders No. 3849 (4 August 1967)