Jon R . Cavaiani Jon Robert Cavaiani ( born August 2 , 1943 ) is a retired United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military ' s highest decoration — the Medal of Honor — for his actions in the Vietnam War . Biography . Born in England , Cavaiani emigrated to the United States with his parents in 1947 at age four . Though initially classified 4F , due in part to a severe allergy to bee stings , Cavaiani joined the Army from Fresno , California , shortly before becoming a naturalized citizen in 1968 . He was sent to Vietnam in 1970 with the Special Forces and by June 4 , 1971 was serving as a Staff Sergeant in Task Force 1 Advisory Element , USARV Training Advisory Group . This unit was formerly known as Command and Control North , MACV - SOG . On that day , in the Republic of Vietnam , his platoon came under intense enemy attack . Cavaiani organized the unit ' s defense and , when evacuation by helicopter became necessary , he voluntarily stayed on the ground and directed the aircraft , which successfully evacuated most of the platoon . Cavaiani and a small group were left behind . During a major enemy attack the next morning , he ordered the remaining men to escape while he stayed and provided suppressive fire to cover their retreat . He was captured and spent the next two years as a prisoner of war . Jon R . Cavaiani was released by the Provisional Government of Vietnam on April 27 , 1973 . Medal of Honor citation . Staff Sergeant Cavaiani ' s official Medal of Honor citation reads : S / Sgt . Cavaiani distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty in action in the Republic of Vietnam on 4 and 5 June 1971 while serving as a platoon leader to a security platoon providing security for an isolated radio relay site located within enemy - held territory . On the morning of 4 June 1971 , the entire camp came under an intense barrage of enemy small arms , automatic weapon s , rocket - propelled grenade and mortar fire from a superior size enemy force . S / Sgt . Cavaiani acted with complete disregard for his personal safety as he repeatedly exposed himself to heavy enemy fire in order to move about the camp ' s perimeter directing the platoon ' s fire and rallying the platoon in a desperate fight for survival . S / Sgt . Cavaiani also returned heavy suppressive fire upon the assaulting enemy force during this period with a variety of weapons . When the entire platoon was to be evacuated , S / Sgt . Cavaiani unhesitatingly volunteered to remain on the ground and direct the helicopters into the landing zone . S / Sgt . Cavaiani was able to direct the first 3 helicopters in evacuating a major portion of the platoon . Due to intense increase in enemy fire , S / Sgt . Cavaiani was forced to remain at the camp overnight where he calmly directed the remaining platoon members in strengthening their defenses . On the morning of 5 June , a heavy ground fog restricted visibility . The superior size enemy force launched a major ground attack in an attempt to completely annihilate the remaining small force . The enemy force advanced in 2 ranks , first firing a heavy volume of small arms automatic weapons and rocket - propelled grenade fire while the second rank continuously threw a steady barrage of hand grenade s at the beleaguered force . S / Sgt . Cavaiani returned a heavy barrage of small arms and hand grenade fire on the assaulting enemy force but was unable to slow them down . He ordered the remaining platoon members to attempt to escape while he provided them with cover fire . With 1 last courageous exertion , S / Sgt . Cavaiani recovered a machine gun , stood up , completely exposing himself to the heavy enemy fire directed at him , and began firing the machine gun in a sweeping motion along the 2 ranks of advancing enemy soldiers . Through S / Sgt . Cavaiani ' s valiant efforts with complete disregard for his safety , the majority of the remaining platoon members were able to escape . While inflicting severe losses on the advancing enemy force , S / Sgt . Cavaiani was wounded numerous times . S / Sgt . Cavaiani ' s conspicuous gallantry , extraordinary heroism and intrepidity at the risk of his life , above and beyond the call of duty , were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the U . S . Army . President Gerald Ford presented Cavaiani with the medal during a ceremony on December 12 , 1974 . Cavaiani later reached the rank of sergeant major before retiring from the Army in 1996 .