VIETNAM - ORETO, JOSEPH ANTHONY

Oreto, Joseph Anthony

VIETNAM - ORETO, JOSEPH ANTHONY
ORETO, JOSEPH ANTHONY

Rank: Sergeant

Unit: Air Cavalry Troop, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment

MOS: 11B – Infantryman

Awards: Silver Star, Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart Medal, Air Medal, 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: 22-Aug-1947

Hometown: Westminster, Maryland

Marital status: Married to Georgia C. Oreto

Campaign: Vietnam Conflict

Entered service: 8-Jan-1968

Start of tour: 24-Nov-1968

Incident date: 13-Apr-1969

Date of casualty: 13-Apr-1969

Age at death: 21

Cause of death: Hostile, died. Grenade. Multiple fragmentation wounds.
Joseph Anthony Oreto was killed while on combat operation when a hostile force was encountered. / On combat operation when engaged hostile force in firefight.

Ten Blackhorse troopers died as a result of this incident:
SP4 Larry Bruce Barfield
SP4 Robert Jay Brinkman
SFC Harry Payne Burton Jr
SP4 Charles Chandler
SP4 Gary John Dasher
SSG Harold Lee Greever
SP4 Kenneth Vern Jensen
SGT Bruce Ervin Johnson
SGT Terry Edward Jones
SGT Joseph Anthony Oreto

Location of fatality: Tay Ninh, South Vietnam, XT 428 557

Place of interment: Wesleys Chapel Cemetery, Pikeville, Tennessee, USA

View this soldier‘s Find a Grave page (opens in a new window)

Vietnam Veterans Memorial panel and row: 27W 076 (view Vietnam Veterans Memorial link in a new window)

 

SILVER STAR

SILVER STAR
POSTHUMOUS

SERGEANT JOSEPH ANTHONY ORETO
13 APRIL 1969
AIR CAVALRY TROOP
11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT

Sergeant Oreto distinguished himself by for gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force on 13 April 1969 while serving as Squad Leader with the Aero Rifle Platoon, Air Cavalry Troop, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date while conducting a bomb damage assessment in a heavily-fortified enemy base camp, the platoon suddenly came under intense machine gun and antitank rocket fire from a well-concealed and well-entrenched hostile force. Sergeant Oreto and his lead squad were immediately pinned down in an open area directly in front of the enemy positions. Realizing the desperate situation he and his men were in, Sergeant Oreto single-handedly assaulted the nearest enemy bunker. While the hostile fire was concentrated on him, his men were able to maneuver into more secure positions. As he prepared to throw a hand grenade into the enemy bunker, he was fatally wounded by hostile fire. Sergeant Oreto’s outstanding courage, unwavering devotion to duty and deep concern for the welfare of his men 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. 1104 (2 May 1969)