thedrifter
05-21-06, 08:12 AM
05/21/06 - Posted from the Daily Record newsroom
Out of ex-Morris vet's bravery comes new history
Boonton H.S. grad, a 'hero,' becomes the first Medal of Honor winner in Fla. to have school named after him
BY TEHANI SCHNEIDER
DAILY RECORD
BOONTON -- Korean War veteran Hector Cafferata Jr. received the Medal of Honor in 1952 for single-handedly staving off the enemy, and for saving dozens of his fellow Marines by selflessly tossing away an enemy grenade.
Fifty-four years later, the Boonton High School graduate -- who now lives in Venice, Fla. -- was bestowed with another rare honor when a Florida public school was named for him.
The Hector A. Cafferata Jr. Elementary School in Cape Coral, dedicated on April 25, became the first school in Florida to be named after a living Medal of Honor recipient.
The 76-year-old Cafferata said on Thursday that he was "truly honored" by the dedication ceremony, which he attended with his wife, Doris.
However, he was quick to add, "It's just a technicality. It could have been named for me. It could have been named for someone else. It's the luck of the draw."
Cafferata's humble attitude is emblematic of his character, said Bob Tracey, a Korean War veteran who lives in Morristown. He departed for Korea on the same day that Cafferata did in September 1950.
"He wasn't the type of guy who loved the fanfare," the 80-year old Tracey said on Thursday.
Tracey recalled when Cafferata was asked to speak at the dedication of the New Jersey Korean War Memorial in Atlantic City in 2000. Both men were appointed to the memorial committee by then-Gov. Christie Whitman.
After his speech, Cafferata turned to Tracey and said, 'Hey, Bobby, I'd rather be hunting and fishing today, wouldn't you?'"
That exchange reflects the type of human being that Cafferata is, Tracey said.
'A rarity'
"Hector's a rarity," he said. "He doesn't look for accolades. He had a job to do and he did it."
Cafferata's heroism in Korea inspired several Boonton High School graduates to enlist, said Chuck Sarges, who graduated from the school in 1954 and recently moved to Florida.
Sarges said his class dedicated its yearbook to Cafferata, the boy five years their senior who had become a local legend.
"Five of us from the graduating class went into the Marine Corps," said Sarges, who attended the dedication ceremony with fellow graduate and good friend Norm Siegel and their wives.
Siegel, who also chose to enlist because of Cafferata, said the ceremony, which was attended by hundreds, was very touching. The highlight was a song performed by the elementary school chorus, titled "Before You Go: A Tribute to Veterans."
The song touched Cafferata, as well.
"The kids brought tears to my eyes," he said. "I was proud to hear them sing from their hearts ... they were absolutely great."
In his speech, Cafferata told the members of the audience that, by honoring him, they were recognizing the courage and sacrifice of all military men and women and the veterans of the country. He asked the children to pause and thank veterans for daily freedoms that so many Americans take for granted.
The official Medal of Honor citation details Cafferata's valiant actions on Nov. 28, 1950, when the Marine private first class was fighting in Korea.
The rest of his fire team became casualties during an attack by Korean forces, creating a gap in the lines.
Cafferata held back enemy forces by waging a lone battle with rifle fire and grenades, moving up and down the line while under fire. He killed 15 Korean soldiers and wounded many more, allowing American reinforcements to move up.
Later that morning, he rushed into an entrenchment occupied by wounded Marines where an enemy grenade had landed.
Severe wounds
Cafferata hurled the missile before it detonated, saving his comrades but seriously injuring himself. Part of his finger was severed and his right hand and arm were severely wounded when the grenade exploded.
Cafferata kept fighting until he was struck by a sniper's bullet and was evacuated for medical treatment.
Morris County veterans who were unable to attend the school dedication ceremony said Cafferata deserves the accolades.
"It's a tremendous honor for a great hero," said Frank Warholic, commander of VFW Post 5481 in Montville.
Al Scerbo, quartermaster of VFW Post 242 in Boonton, said Cafferata, who was 10 years behind him at Boonton High School, didn't like a fuss made over him.
"He was a fine person. Nice, quiet, unassuming guy," said Scerbo, 85. "It didn't surprise any of us that he was able to do what he did in the service. He deserves the honor of the school dedication."
Cafferata was born in New York City, but moved to Morris County with his family when he was 9 years old, and lived in the Lake Hiawatha section of Parsippany and Montville. He graduated from Boonton High School in 1949, and was one of the first inductees to the school's Hall of Fame in 1996.
Tehani Schneider can be reached at (973) 428-6631 or
Ellie
Out of ex-Morris vet's bravery comes new history
Boonton H.S. grad, a 'hero,' becomes the first Medal of Honor winner in Fla. to have school named after him
BY TEHANI SCHNEIDER
DAILY RECORD
BOONTON -- Korean War veteran Hector Cafferata Jr. received the Medal of Honor in 1952 for single-handedly staving off the enemy, and for saving dozens of his fellow Marines by selflessly tossing away an enemy grenade.
Fifty-four years later, the Boonton High School graduate -- who now lives in Venice, Fla. -- was bestowed with another rare honor when a Florida public school was named for him.
The Hector A. Cafferata Jr. Elementary School in Cape Coral, dedicated on April 25, became the first school in Florida to be named after a living Medal of Honor recipient.
The 76-year-old Cafferata said on Thursday that he was "truly honored" by the dedication ceremony, which he attended with his wife, Doris.
However, he was quick to add, "It's just a technicality. It could have been named for me. It could have been named for someone else. It's the luck of the draw."
Cafferata's humble attitude is emblematic of his character, said Bob Tracey, a Korean War veteran who lives in Morristown. He departed for Korea on the same day that Cafferata did in September 1950.
"He wasn't the type of guy who loved the fanfare," the 80-year old Tracey said on Thursday.
Tracey recalled when Cafferata was asked to speak at the dedication of the New Jersey Korean War Memorial in Atlantic City in 2000. Both men were appointed to the memorial committee by then-Gov. Christie Whitman.
After his speech, Cafferata turned to Tracey and said, 'Hey, Bobby, I'd rather be hunting and fishing today, wouldn't you?'"
That exchange reflects the type of human being that Cafferata is, Tracey said.
'A rarity'
"Hector's a rarity," he said. "He doesn't look for accolades. He had a job to do and he did it."
Cafferata's heroism in Korea inspired several Boonton High School graduates to enlist, said Chuck Sarges, who graduated from the school in 1954 and recently moved to Florida.
Sarges said his class dedicated its yearbook to Cafferata, the boy five years their senior who had become a local legend.
"Five of us from the graduating class went into the Marine Corps," said Sarges, who attended the dedication ceremony with fellow graduate and good friend Norm Siegel and their wives.
Siegel, who also chose to enlist because of Cafferata, said the ceremony, which was attended by hundreds, was very touching. The highlight was a song performed by the elementary school chorus, titled "Before You Go: A Tribute to Veterans."
The song touched Cafferata, as well.
"The kids brought tears to my eyes," he said. "I was proud to hear them sing from their hearts ... they were absolutely great."
In his speech, Cafferata told the members of the audience that, by honoring him, they were recognizing the courage and sacrifice of all military men and women and the veterans of the country. He asked the children to pause and thank veterans for daily freedoms that so many Americans take for granted.
The official Medal of Honor citation details Cafferata's valiant actions on Nov. 28, 1950, when the Marine private first class was fighting in Korea.
The rest of his fire team became casualties during an attack by Korean forces, creating a gap in the lines.
Cafferata held back enemy forces by waging a lone battle with rifle fire and grenades, moving up and down the line while under fire. He killed 15 Korean soldiers and wounded many more, allowing American reinforcements to move up.
Later that morning, he rushed into an entrenchment occupied by wounded Marines where an enemy grenade had landed.
Severe wounds
Cafferata hurled the missile before it detonated, saving his comrades but seriously injuring himself. Part of his finger was severed and his right hand and arm were severely wounded when the grenade exploded.
Cafferata kept fighting until he was struck by a sniper's bullet and was evacuated for medical treatment.
Morris County veterans who were unable to attend the school dedication ceremony said Cafferata deserves the accolades.
"It's a tremendous honor for a great hero," said Frank Warholic, commander of VFW Post 5481 in Montville.
Al Scerbo, quartermaster of VFW Post 242 in Boonton, said Cafferata, who was 10 years behind him at Boonton High School, didn't like a fuss made over him.
"He was a fine person. Nice, quiet, unassuming guy," said Scerbo, 85. "It didn't surprise any of us that he was able to do what he did in the service. He deserves the honor of the school dedication."
Cafferata was born in New York City, but moved to Morris County with his family when he was 9 years old, and lived in the Lake Hiawatha section of Parsippany and Montville. He graduated from Boonton High School in 1949, and was one of the first inductees to the school's Hall of Fame in 1996.
Tehani Schneider can be reached at (973) 428-6631 or
Ellie