jon r cavaiani sergeant major retired jon r cavaiani was born in murphys ireland and sent to england in he came to the united states in and in moved to the small farming community of ballico california to be with his stepfather ugo cavaiani in ugo formally adopted jon and in he became a naturalized citizen of the united states jon cavaiani joined the u s army in he volunteered for special forces where he spent the next years cavaiani was awarded the medal of honor for his actions while a platoon leader on an isolated radio relay site deep in enemy territory jon was serving with the studies and observations group sog an elite reconnaissance unit when he was written up for the medal of honor for his actions on and june in vietnam eleven days after this action wounded and still trying to evade the enemy jon was captured and spent the next months as a prisoner of war in north vietnam his other assignments included tours in the middle east south america europe and southeast asia jon spent three years in berlin germany as the senior operations sergeant major for british french and u s forces he was selected and assigned to the united states most elite counter terrorist force upon retiring jon has made time available to serve as the th region director of the congressional medal of honor society cavaiani recently graduated with honors from the culinary arts program in columbia ca where he and his wife barbara live jon has three grandsons and two granddaughters among his numerous awards and decorations are the nation s highest award for valor the army medal of honor the legion of valor legion of merit bronze star medal valor purple heart with oak leaf clusters jon was a freefell and static line jumpmaster and has over jumps all over the world