On the morning of September 4, 1967, Delta Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines was unexpectedly attacked in the Que Song Valley by the North Vietnamese. Taking heavy fire and surrounded, the commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel Peter Hilgartner radioed for reinforcements. Two companies of the 3rd Battalion answered the call.
Father Capodanno insisted on going with the outbound companies. Initially denied by the First Sergeant, Fr. Capodanno continued up the chain of command until he was granted permission. He left with Company M, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines. Upon landing, he gave General Absolution and Holy Communion to Catholic Marines. According to witness accounts, just the presence of Fr. Capodanno and the reception of the Sacraments kept the Marines calm and cool throughout the battle.
As Company M made their way to the location of Delta Company they were attacked by heavy fire and a barrage of mortar. Soon, their ranks were overrun and they were encircled. Fr. Capodanno had been following behind with the Command Post when the attack began. However, without a thought, he left the protection of the Command Post, running under heavy fire towards the retreating Marines. Fr. Capodanno began helping Marines find safety, attending to the wounded, and giving last rites to dying Marines. During the battle, Capodanno was constantly exposed to enemy fire, and yet showed no concern for his own safety.
At some point during the battle, Fr. Capodanno was seriously wounded by a mortar shell. As his arm dangled limply at his side and with a portion of his right hand severed, he continued to serve the Marines. He refused medical aid, insisting that other Marines be cared for first. From Marine to Marine, Fr. Capodanno continued to administer medical and spiritual care with steadfast calmness and heroic virtue.
During the battle, the heroic chaplain saw a wounded Navy Corpsman attempting to help a fallen Marine in the open and in the direct line of an enemy machine gun position. Despite being told to take cover, Fr. Capodanno ran to the wounded corpsman. However, he was struck down by a burst of machine gun fire. Fr. Capodanno fell just inches away from the corpsman’s side.
Fr. Vincent Capodanno gave the ultimate sacrifice in the course of fulfilling his vocation. At his eulogy, Chaplain Eil Takesian said, “His was the pilgrimage of a saint. Even to the end he faithfully held to the precept of our Lord that ‘greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.’” His selflessness, fortitude, and perseverance encouraged the Marines he served and witnessed to the Gospel. To these men, many of which were fighting spiritual battles as well as the war, he was an image of Christ. He brought faith, courage, and peace to the grunts that were struggling with faith amidst the horrors of war.
But more than this, Lt. Capodanno went above and beyond the call of duty as Chaplain of the 3rd Battalion. He was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for his actions on September 4, 1967.
The President of the United States in the name of The Congress takes pride in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR posthumously to
LIEUTENANT VINCENT R. CAPODANNO
CHAPLAIN CORPS
UNITED STATES NAVAL RESERVE
for service as set forth in the following
CITATION:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as Chaplain, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, in connection with operations against enemy forces in Quang Tin Province, Republic of Vietnam, on 4 September 1967. In response to reports that the 2nd Platoon of M Company was in danger of being overrun by a strong enemy force, Chaplain Capodanno left his position of relative safety with the company command group and ran to the beleaguered platoon through an open area raked with fire. Despite the intense enemy small-arms, automatic-weapons, and mortar fusillade, he moved about the battlefield administering last rites, giving medical aid to the wounded and greatly inspiring all within sight or hearing. Although an exploding mortar round severed a portion of his right hand and inflicted painful multiple wounds to his arms and legs, he refused all medical aid. Instead, he directed the corpsmen to treat their wounded comrades, and he continued to move about the battlefield with calm vigor as he provided encouragement by voice and example to the valiant Marines. Seeing a wounded corpsman directly in the line of fire of an enemy machine gun fifteen yards away, Chaplain Capodanno rushed forward to the corpsman, but was struck down only inches from his goal by a burst of machine-gun fire. By his heroic conduct and inspiring example, Chaplain Capodanno upheld the finest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life in the cause of freedom.