- SURNAME
Spisto
- FORENAME
Justin Richard
- UNIT
5 SF Group (Det B-43)
- RANK
Captain
- NUMBER
110326127
- AWARD
Silver Star, Air Medal
- PLACE
South Vietnam 1970
- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
KIA - see Roll of Honour
ROLL OF HONOUR:
https://www.specialforcesroh.com/index.php?threads/spisto-justin-richard.9390/CITATION:
Silver Star : The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918 (amended by an act of July 25, 1963), takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain (Infantry) Justin R. Spisto, United States Army, for gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Company D, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces. Captain Spisto distinguished himself on 4 March 1970 during an operation to interdict the inflation of enemy troops into the Republic of Vietnam. Acting as task force commander, Captain Spisto coordinated allied air and ground forces that afternoon from his command and control helicopter. Before inserting his strike force troops into the area of operation, Captain Spisto made repeated low-level passes over the wooded infiltration route marking enemy positions with smoke grenades in preparation for tactical air strikes. When much of the ordnance dropped on the enemy failed to detonate effectively, Captain Spisto quickly directed helicopter gunships to the target area. He then inserted his ground forces and moved them into the woods where the enemy were positioned. The strike force troops were immediately met with extremely heavy fire and, sustaining many casualties, were forced to withdraw from the woods, dragging their wounded with them. Observing that the ground troops had pulled back to untenable ground, Captain Spisto called for troop reinforcements and further air strikes. He issued instructions to his ground commanders which assisted them in quickly reorganizing their forces and evacuating their wounded. Captain Spisto then directed his helicopter back over the enemy positions in order to locate a wounded allied soldier who had been left behind and to remark targets for additional air strikes. While making a low pass over the target area, Captain Spisto was critically wounded by enemy ground fire. He died shortly after having been brought to rear medical facilities. Captain Spisto's gallantry in action, at the cost of his life, was in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.
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