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
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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)