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Fred Lohr (D Troop 68-69)

VIENNA, Va, May 28, 2011— "Friends of Capt. Rocky Versace" will hold the 9th Annual Memorial Day ceremonies at The Captain Rocky Versace Plaza and Vietnam Veterans' Memorial at the Mount Vernon Recreation Center, dedicated on July 6, 2002 to U.S. Army in honor of Captain Humbert Roque "Rocky" Versace (July 2, 1937–September 26, 1965).
The group will gather to remember the extraordinary Captain Versace and other fallen soldiers from the area. Versace, born in Hawaii of Puerto Rican and Italian descent, is the only known Medal of Honor recipient given that honor for bravery while a POW. He had been in Vietnam since 1952, and less than two weeks before his duty there would have ended, Captain Versace, acting as an Intelligence Advisor to Det. A-23, 5thSpecial Forces Group in the Mekong Delta, was captured by the Viet Cong.
He was accompanying a group of South Vietnamese civilian troops who were trying to wipe out a Viet Cong command post, when they were ambushed and overrun by the enemy, during which he sustained serious wounds. Despite his condition, he was able to provide cover fire so that the civilian forces could escape from the area.
Nearby US forces became aware of the situation too late to assist and Versace was captured and taken to an enemy prison deep in the jungle. Lt. Nick Rowe  (February 8, 1938 – April 21, 1989), Daniel L. Pitzer(released 1967); At Hiep Hoa: Claude D. McClure ; George E. Smith(released 1965); Issac Camacho  (escaped 1965); Kenneth M. Roraback(missing) were all POWS with Captain Versace.
It was said that Versace attempted to escape four different times, but was captured and brought back each time. He rebelled against all interrogation sessions, insulting the interrogators, quoting the Geneva Convention frequently and providing no information.
The Viet Cong were so incensed that they separated Versace from the others.  Rowe and others said that they last time they were able to hear Versace's voice, he was singing "God Bless America" as loudly as he could.
On September 26, 1965, North Vietnam's "Liberation Radio" announced that he had been executed for his crimes, and his remains were never found or returned.  A headstone bearing his name can be found in Arlington Cemetery, Memorial section, MG-108.
Monday's  ceremony is also in honor of the sixty-seven Alexandria soldiers, sailors and marines who made the ultimate sacrifice during the Vietnam War. Both markers are located in front of the Mount Vernon Recreation Center at 2701 Commonwealth Avenue.
Special honorees this year include four U.S. Military Academy graduates, three graduates of the U. S. Air Force Academy, and six men from that action who are still classified as Missing in Action.
The program included guest speakers, a reading of the "67 Heroes," a special tribute to Cpt. Rocky Versace written by U.S. Army Col. James N. "Nick" Rowe (USMA 1960), a wreath laying in honor of the fallen soldiers and the sounding of "Taps."
The Friends group raised the money for the Memorial and provided support for the Medal of Honor award recommendation.  Since 2003, they have raised over $10,000, which was donated to the Mount Vernon Recreation Center for the upkeep and cleaning of Rocky's statue at the Plaza, as well as the purchase of computers in the learning center.
The statue portrays Versace with a small child on either side and is the focal point of the area.
Humbert Roque Versace
Rank and organization: Captain, U.S. Army, Intelligence Advisor, Special Operations
Place: Republic of Vietnam
Entered service at: Norfolk, Virginia
Born: Honolulu, Hawaii
Citation:

Captain Humbert Roque -Rocky- Versace
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while a prisoner of war during the period of October 29, 1963 to September 26, 1965 in the Republic of Vietnam.
While accompanying a Civilian Irregular Defense Group patrol engaged in combat operations in Thoi Binh District, An Xuyen Province, Republic of Vietnam on October 29, 1963, Captain Versace and the CIDG assault force were caught in an ambush from intense mortar, automatic weapons, andsmall arms fire from elements of a reinforced enemy Main Force battalion.
As the battle raged, Captain Versace fought valiantly and encouraged his CIDG patrol to return fire against overwhelming enemy forces. He provided covering fire from an exposed position to enable friendly forces to withdraw from the killing zone when it was apparent that their position would be overrun, and was severely wounded in the knee and back from automatic weapons fire andshrapnel.
He stubbornly resisted capture with the last full measure of his strength and ammunition. Taken prisoner by the Viet Cong, he demonstrated exceptional leadership and resolute adherence to the tenets of the Code of Conduct from the time he entered into a prisoner of war status.
Captain Versace assumed command of his fellow American prisoners, and despite being kept locked in irons in an isolation box, raised their morale by singing messages to popular songs of the day, and leaving inspiring messages at the latrine. Within three weeks of captivity, and despite the severity of his untreated wounds, he attempted the first of four escape attempts by dragging himself on his hands and knees out of the camp through dense swamp and forbidding vegetation to freedom. Crawling at a very slow pace due to his weakened condition, the guards quickly discovered him outside the camp and recaptured him.
Captain Versace scorned the enemy's exhaustive interrogation and indoctrination efforts, and inspired his fellow prisoners to resist to the best of their ability. When he used his Vietnamese language skills to protest improper treatment of the American prisoners by the guards, he was put into leg irons and gagged to keep his protestations out of earshot of the other American prisoners in the camp.
The last time that any of his fellow prisoners heard from him, Captain Versace was singing God Bless America at the top of his voice from his isolation box.
Unable to break his indomitable will, his faith in God, and his trust in the United States of America and his fellow prisoners, Captain Versace was executed by the Viet Cong on September 26, 1965. Captain Versace's extraordinary heroism, self-sacrifice, and personal bravery involving conspicuous risk of life above and beyond the call of duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Army, and reflect great credit to himself and the U.S. Armed Forces.[13]
RVN 68-69  72-73

Fred Lohr

http://www.fredlohr.com