John Robertson

Administrator
Staff member
  • SURNAME
Versace
  • FORENAME
Humbert Roque (Rocky)
  • UNIT
5 SF Group (Det A-23)
  • RANK
Captain
  • NUMBER
0-87417​
  • DATE OF DEATH
26th September 1965
  • AGE
28
  • GRAVESITE
National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific,Honolulu,Hawaii Courts of the Missing
  • ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
from Norfolk,Virginia (actually Alexandria,Virginia)
born 2.7.1937 Honolulu,Hawaii
son of Humbert Joseph and Marie Teresa (nee Rios) Versace
father (1911-72) served as Colonel US Army in WW2 and Korea (Army Commendation Medal)
husband Jane (nee Newsom) Versace
grew up Norfolk and Alexandria,Virginia
single
attended Frankfurt American High School,Germany 1953-54
graduated Norfolk Catholic High School,Virginia Beach 1955
graduated Gonzaga College High School,Washington,D.C.
entered service Norfolk,Virginia
graduated USMA,West Point 1959
3 Bn 40 Armor Regiment
3 Infantry Regiment
Airborne and Ranger qualified
5 SF Group 1963
award Medal of Honor (2002),Silver Star
WIA and POW 26.9.1965 4k north of Tan Phu,An Xuyen Province,South Vietnam
executed and buried in unmarked grave
remains not recovered
presumed dead 1.7.1966
Vietnam Veterans Memorial,Washington,D.C. Panel 01E Line 33
parents buried Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery,Virginia Memorial Section MG Site 108 memorial stone
 

DATE OF DEATH:

26-Sep-1965

AWARD:

https://www.specialforcesroh.com/index.php?threads/versace-humbert-roque-rocky.30047/

CITATION:

Medal Of Honor : The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pride in presenting the Medal of Honor (Posthumously) to Captain Humbert Roque Versace (ASN: 0-87417), United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Captain Humbert R. Versace distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism during the period of 29 October 1963 to 26 September 1965, while serving as S-2 Advisor, Military Assistance Advisory Group, Detachment 52, Ca Mau, Republic of Vietnam. While accompanying a Civilian Irregular Defense Group patrol engaged in combat operations in Thoi Binh District, An Xuyen Province, Captain Versace and the patrol came under sudden and intense mortar, automatic weapons, and small arms fire from elements of a heavily armed enemy battalion. As the battle raged, Captain Versace, although severely wounded in the knee and back by hostile fire, fought valiantly and continued to engage enemy targets. Weakened by his wounds and fatigued by the fierce firefight, Captain Versace stubbornly resisted capture by the over-powering Viet Cong force with the last full measure of his strength and ammunition. Taken prisoner by the Viet Cong, he exemplified the tenets of the Code of Conduct from the time he entered into Prisoner of War status. Captain Versace assumed command of his fellow American soldiers, scorned the enemy's exhaustive interrogation and indoctrination efforts, and made three unsuccessful attempts to escape, despite his weakened condition which was brought about by his wounds and the extreme privation and hardships he was forced to endure. During his captivity, Captain Versace was segregated in an isolated prisoner of war cage, manacled in irons for prolonged periods of time, and placed on extremely reduced ration. The enemy was unable to break his indomitable will, his faith in God, and his trust in the United States of America. Captain Versace, an American fighting man who epitomized the principles of his country and the Code of Conduct, was executed by the Viet Cong on 26 September 1965. Captain Versace's gallant actions in close contact with an enemy force and unyielding courage and bravery while a prisoner of war are in the highest traditions of the military service and reflect the utmost credit upon himself and the United States Army.
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