The Wall › Panel 8W › New York › Frank Rocco Fratellenico
FRANK ROCCO FRATELLENICO
Corporal · U.S. Army
July 14, 1951 – August 19, 1970
Medal of Honor StoryFrank Rocco Fratellenico, of Chatham, New York, served as a Corporal in the U.S. Army. He died on August 19, 1970, in Quang Tri Province, South Vietnam, at age 19. His name is inscribed on Panel 8W, Line 124 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
Medal of Honor · awarded posthumously
For conspicuous gallantry
Frank Rocco Fratellenico received the Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest award for valor, for his actions on August 19, 1970. The official citation reads:
Corporal Fratellenico's official Medal of Honor citation reads:
Cpl. Fratellenico distinguished himself while serving as a rifleman with Company B. Cpl. Fratellenico's squad was pinned down by intensive fire from 2 well-fortified enemy bunkers. At great personal risk Cpl. Fratellenico maneuvered forward and, using hand grenades, neutralized the first bunker which was occupied by a number of enemy soldiers. While attacking the second bunker, enemy fire struck Cpl. Fratellenico, causing him to fall to the ground and drop a grenade which he was preparing to throw. Alert to the imminent danger to his comrades, Cpl. Fratellenico retrieved the grenade and fell upon it an instant before it exploded. His heroic actions prevented death or serious injury to 4 of his comrades nearby and inspired his unit which subsequently overran the enemy position. Cpl. Fratellenico's conspicuous gallantry, extraordinary heroism, and intrepidity at the cost of his life, above and beyond the call of duty, are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit on him, his unit, and the U.S. Army.
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Citation text as reproduced in Wikipedia’s article on Frank Rocco Fratellenico; Medal of Honor citations are official U.S. government records. See also the Congressional Medal of Honor Society and all Medal of Honor recipients on the Wall.
On the Wall
Panel 8W · Line 124
Names are inscribed in the order of loss, starting at Panel 1E at the apex and ending at Panel 1W. At the Memorial, find the panel number at the base and count down from the top line.
Remember
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Service
- Branch
- U.S. Army
- Rank
- Corporal (CPL)
- Service
- Regular
- Occupation
- Infantryman (11B)
- Unit (as recorded)
- 101 AIRBORNE DIV
- Born
- July 14, 1951
- Home of record
- Chatham, New York (Columbia County)
Casualty
- Date of death
- August 19, 1970
- Age
- 19
- Province
- Quang Tri
- Country
- South Vietnam
- Casualty type
- Hostile
- Category
- Killed in Action
- Circumstance
- Small Arms Fire
Context · from the records
What was happening
Seven names on the Wall carry the date August 19, 1970; he was the only one lost in Quảng Trị Province that day. In August 1970, 452 Americans whose names are on the Wall died in the war.
The 101st Airborne Division, his unit in the record, lost 41 of its members that month.
Read the history
Also on Panel 8W, Line 124
- FREDERICK WILLARD CROSSSpecialist Four · August 19, 1970
- EVELIO ALFRED GOMEZPrivate First Class · August 19, 1970
- TERENCE MICHAEL KJOSPrivate First Class · August 19, 1970
- DANIEL LAWRENCE AAMOLDAirman First Class · August 20, 1970
From Chatham
- CARLTON F MCCAGG JRSpecialist Four · January 16, 1970
Source. U.S. Department of Defense, Defense Casualty Analysis System, Vietnam Conflict Extract Data File (as of April 29, 2008), Records of the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Record Group 330, National Archives (NAID 2240992). Panel and line as recorded in that file. The Medal of Honor citation above is the official account of his actions. See something wrong? Report a correction.