This photo was taken March 2, 1966 at Regimental
Samuel Gizzi Orlando One of 491 soldiers to receive the Navy Cross 174,000 US Sailors served in the Viet War The Navy Cross is the second highest military decoration for valor that may be awarded to a member of the United States Navy he was Birmingham and Seaholms first casualty in vietnam
"Although we never met personally, I want to thank you Samuel Gizzi Orlando, for your courageous and valiant service, faithful contribution, and most holy sacrifice, given to this great country of ours!
Your Spirit is alive--and strong, therefore, you shall never be forgotten, nor has your death been in vain!
Again, thank you Doc Orlando, for a job well done!
FAIR WINDS, AND ETERNAL PEACE MY FRIEND" - Donald Lytle
| Service Type | Active Regular |
| Service Name | Navy |
| Rank | Hospital Corpsman Apprentice |
| Paygrade | E1 - E4 |
| Occupation | Hospital Corpsman |
| Birthdate | 08/01/1944 |
| Gender | Male |
| Home City | Birmingham |
| Home State | Michigan |
| Home County | Oakland |
| Home Country | United States |
| Marital Status | Never Married |
| Religion | Roman Catholic Church |
| Race | White |
| Casualty City | Quang Ngai |
| Casualty Zone | Vietnam Conflict Military Zone 1 |
| Casualty Country | South Vietnam |
| Casualty Region | Asia |
| Unit | 2 Bn 7 Mar 1 Mardiv |
| Duty Code | Unknown |
| Incident Date | 03/04/1966 |
| Process Date | 03/01/1966 |
| Year of Death | 1966 |
| Conflict | Vietnam Conflict |
| Operation Type | Combat |
| Operation Name | Southeast Asia |
| Closure Date | 03/04/1966 |
| Death Type | Hostile Death |
| Casualty Type | Deceased |
| Casualty Category | Killed In Action |
| Casualty Reason | Grenade |
| Remains Recovered | Body Remains Recovered |
| Casualty Closure | Buried Unknown Disposition |
| Vietnam Wall | 05e 108 |
For extraordinary heroism on 4 March, 1966 while serving as Corpsman in Company "H", Second Battalion, Seventh Marines, during Operation UTAH in the Republic of Vietnam. Upon learning that additional Corpsmen were needed when one of the platoons of his company was particularly hard hit by automatic weapons and heavy mortar fire and was sustaining heavy casualties, Orlando unhesitatingly left his position of relative safety and moved across a barren hill in the face of intense fire to the wounded Marines. Exercising outstanding professional skill and resourcefulness, he dressed many wounds and helped evacuate casualties, making several daring trips across the fire-swept area. During one of these trips, when he heard a call for more machine-gun ammunition, he quickly acquired the necessary rounds and carried them to the machine-gun position which was in critically short supply. Hearing the cries of a wounded Marine during an ensuing enemy counter-attack, Orlando crawled forward in a courageous attempt to render aid, but was mortally wounded by enemy fire at the moment he reached his objective. In Sacrificing his own life while saving the lives of many of his comrades, Orlando displayed the highest degree of courage and self-sacrifice. His heroic and inspiring efforts were in keeping the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
"H" Companys' arrival was delayed until 13:00 due to heavy ground fire directed at the helicopters. With reports coming in from the battlefield, it was decided to expand the operation and Task Foce Delta was reactivated with Gen. Platt Commanding and Col. Peatross as his Chief of Staff. A Command Post was set up on Nui Tien An (Buddah Hill) just north of Quang Ngai City in close proximity to the 2d ARVN Division Headquarters which was located in Quang Ngai City.
"I first met Sam at the US Naval Shipyard, San Francisco in 1963-64. We were standing port and
starboard watches at the Dispensary, due to a shortage of hospital corpsman. Sam was in my
watch and was a good corpsman. He was dedicated, was a fast learner and had a good sense of
humor. I transferred to the Mountain Warfare Training Center, Bridgeport, California and then to
Vietman with Regimental Landing Team 7 in 1965.
In early 1966 we were in Chu Lai to replenish our hospital supply block, having been transferred from
Qhui Nhon where we had established a forward hospital in support of the South Koreans and the
to arrival of the 101st Airborne(Army). Sam stopped by several times to shoot the breeze and have
a beer (if we had any), the 2/7 didn't get much beer but we had access to choppers back and forth
to Da Nang.
starboard watches at the Dispensary, due to a shortage of hospital corpsman. Sam was in my
watch and was a good corpsman. He was dedicated, was a fast learner and had a good sense of
humor. I transferred to the Mountain Warfare Training Center, Bridgeport, California and then to
Vietman with Regimental Landing Team 7 in 1965.
In early 1966 we were in Chu Lai to replenish our hospital supply block, having been transferred from
Qhui Nhon where we had established a forward hospital in support of the South Koreans and the
to arrival of the 101st Airborne(Army). Sam stopped by several times to shoot the breeze and have
a beer (if we had any), the 2/7 didn't get much beer but we had access to choppers back and forth
to Da Nang.
The last time I saw Sam was March 3, 1966. He stopped by and I gave him a hair cut . He told me
they were going for a "walk thru/mop up" the next day. He may have had a premonition since he gave
me his watch to hold for him. I took a photo of Sam that day "to prove my haircuts were not bad".
I'm looking at it as I type and can remember him with fondness. I next saw Sam at the Graves
Registration tent at Chu Lai. The sergeant in charge had seen Sam at our outfit but didn't know his
name so he came around to ask us to see if we could identify Sam. I've always felt that the bad guys
took his dog tags so as to try to demoralize us. I gave Sam’s watch to the sergeant from Graves
Registration and hope it got to his family. I tried to get Sam’s address from 2/7 but they were so
messed up and disorganized they couldn't help.
I 've remembered Sam all these years and especially on Memorial Day. This is the first time I've
talked about him to anyone but my wife. Sam was a hero, but more importantly he was a son, brother
and a good shipmate who has been missed." - Terry Doerr
they were going for a "walk thru/mop up" the next day. He may have had a premonition since he gave
me his watch to hold for him. I took a photo of Sam that day "to prove my haircuts were not bad".
I'm looking at it as I type and can remember him with fondness. I next saw Sam at the Graves
Registration tent at Chu Lai. The sergeant in charge had seen Sam at our outfit but didn't know his
name so he came around to ask us to see if we could identify Sam. I've always felt that the bad guys
took his dog tags so as to try to demoralize us. I gave Sam’s watch to the sergeant from Graves
Registration and hope it got to his family. I tried to get Sam’s address from 2/7 but they were so
messed up and disorganized they couldn't help.
I 've remembered Sam all these years and especially on Memorial Day. This is the first time I've
talked about him to anyone but my wife. Sam was a hero, but more importantly he was a son, brother
and a good shipmate who has been missed." - Terry Doerr
"Sam gave (didn't "lose") his life in service to Marines and the country. He was awarded the Navy Cross for his actions in Operation Utah. He was a fellow corpsman, a freind, a Brother. RIP, Sam...you served well. See you "on the other side" - Dan McCarthy
Photos above are of Sydney Austrailia in the 1966. This is where Sam was going to go for
R & R the day after he died
"I did not know Sam but I know his brother. I knew that Sam received the Navy Cross for heroism in the action that took his life. One evening , in Harbor Springs, Michigan, after years of wondering, (being a former Marine Infantryman) I asked Tom Orlando if he would relate the story of what happened. He told me the most moving and heroic story I have ever heard; about Sam volunteering for a mop-up, prior to an afternoon flight that he was about to take Sydney for five days of liberty. All Hell broke loose on the patrol. He ended up giving his life for his Marines and his country. I was moved to chills and tears when I tried to relate the story a few times afterwords to those who were curious about such things. He is burried in Arlington. An inspiration to me." - Jim Campbell
No comments:
Post a Comment