- SURNAME
Pina
- FORENAME
Frank David
- UNIT
former SF (Second Lieutenant)
- RANK
Captain
- NUMBER
0-5320367
- DATE OF DEATH
1st March 1968
- AGE
28
- GRAVESITE
Lafayette Memorial Park,Fayetteville,Cumberland County,North Carolina
- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
from Montclair,California
born 24.10.1939 Navajoa,Sonora,Mexico
son of Francisco Valenzuela and Lilia (nee Cisneros) Pina,Montclair,California
husband of Jennifer Ann (nee Wands) Pina,Fayetteville,North Carolina (married 19.12.1964)
moved from Mexico to Nogales,Arizona 18.12.1942
moved to Pomona,California 1955
moved to Montclair,California 1958
10 years service
graduated OCS
SF in Latin America (dates ?)
60 Infantry Regiment (Company A,3 Bn)
awards D.S.C.,Bronze Star
KIA Phong Dinh Province,South Vietnam
DATE OF DEATH:
01-Mar-1968CITATION:
Distinguished Service Cross : The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918 (amended by act of July 25, 1963), takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Captain (Infantry) Frank David Pina (ASN: 0-5320367), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Company A, 3d Battalion, 60th Infantry, 9th Infantry Division. Captain Pina distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 10 January 1968 while serving as commanding officer of an infantry company on a heliborne reconnaissance-in-force mission near Cai Be. The first airlift received heavy automatic weapons, rocket and mortar fire immediately upon landing. Captain Pina quickly organized the two platoons aboard and personally led an assault on the woodline bordering the landing zone, ejecting the Viet Cong from a narrow bunker line. He then radioed for the remainder of his company to make an air assault on the flank of the fortified positions he faced. With all his troops on the ground, he braved withering enemy fire time after time to link the two elements together. It soon became evident that his company was positioned in the midst of a Viet Cong main force battalion and greatly outnumbered. At that time, Captain Pena took over the direction of supporting fires as the forward observer had been killed. He adjusted artillery fire while extracting the wounded from the open landing zone which was still under intense fire. He then directed air strikes on the principle sources of enemy fire. Reinforcements were unable to penetrate the strong enemy defenses, and Captain Pena unhesitatingly elected to stay with the wounded rather than attempt a withdrawal of his able-bodied men. He continued to direct artillery fire and air strikes with such accuracy that the enemy was unable to mount an attack on his perimeter and withdrew during the night. Captain Pina's personal bravery and outstanding professional leadership not only prevented his unit's annihilation, but was also responsible for substantially weakening Viet Cong strength and effectiveness in the Cai Be area. Captain Pina's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.
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