For Day 3 of 2013 National PA Week, CPT Richard Levada coordinated a breakfast gathering at the Rocco Dining Facility in JBSA Fort Sam Houston, Texas. He provided a pamphlet of CW2 Louis Rocco's biography and Medal of Honor citation. He and CPT Donald Merrill also set up Community Health displays at the Rocco and Slagle Dining Facilities.
During the event, COL Pauline Gross, the Army Service Chief at the Interservice Physician Assistant Program and one of the best living historian we have of Army PA history that is still on active duty, discussed CW2 Rocco and also historic background on the support received by the physician assistant community to get approval for the profession to be commissioned in the Army. There was also plenty of opportunity to get one-on-one time with fellow physician assistants to network in a relaxed atmosphere.
Here is the information provided on CW2 Louis Rocco:
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Quick Facts
Citation: WO Rocco distinguished himself when he volunteered to accompany a medical evacuation team on an urgent mission to evacuate 8 critically wounded Army of the Republic of Vietnam personnel. As the helicopter approached the landing zone, it became the target for intense enemy automatic weapons fire. Disregarding his own safety, WO Rocco identified and placed accurate suppressive fire on the enemy positions as the aircraft descended toward the landing zone. Sustaining major damage from the enemy fire, the aircraft was forced to crash land, causing WO Rocco to sustain a fractured wrist and hip and a severely bruised back. Ignoring his injuries, he extracted the survivors from the burning wreckage, sustaining burns to his own body. Despite intense enemy fire, WO Rocco carried each unconscious man across approximately 20 meters of exposed terrain to the Army of the Republic of Vietnam perimeter. On each trip, his severely burned hands and broken wrist caused excruciating pain, but the lives of the unconscious crash survivors were more important than his personal discomfort, and he continued his rescue efforts. Once inside the friendly position, WO Rocco helped administer first aid to his wounded comrades until his wounds and burns caused him to collapse and lose consciousness. His bravery under fire and intense devotion to duty were directly responsible for saving 3 of his fellow soldiers from certain death. His unparalleled bravery in the face of enemy fire, his complete disregard for his own pain and injuries, and his performance were far above and beyond the call of duty and were in keeping with the highest traditions of self-sacrifice and courage of the military service.
References:
CW2 Rocco Medal of Honor Citation
http://history.amedd.army.mil/MOH/roccol.html
Oral History Interview with CW2 Louis R. Rocco
http://ameddregiment.amedd.army.mil/moh/bios/roccoInt.html
During the event, COL Pauline Gross, the Army Service Chief at the Interservice Physician Assistant Program and one of the best living historian we have of Army PA history that is still on active duty, discussed CW2 Rocco and also historic background on the support received by the physician assistant community to get approval for the profession to be commissioned in the Army. There was also plenty of opportunity to get one-on-one time with fellow physician assistants to network in a relaxed atmosphere.
Here is the information provided on CW2 Louis Rocco:
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CW2 Louis R. Rocco
(19 November 1938 - 31 October 2002)
- Joined the Army in 1955
- Served as a medic
- Graduated from the first Army Physician Assistant class in 1973
- Retired from active duty in 1978
- Returned to active duty in 1991-1992 and served recruiting medical personnel
- Dedicated his life promoting Veterans Against Drugs and other Veteran’s causes
- Buried in San Antonio National Cemetery
Medal of Honor
Bronze Star Medal
Purple Heart
National Defense Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal
Southwest Asia Service Medal
Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm Streamer
Vietnam Campaign Medal
Bronze Star Medal
Purple Heart
National Defense Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal
Southwest Asia Service Medal
Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm Streamer
Vietnam Campaign Medal
Combat Medical Badge
Parachutist Badge
Rank and organization:
Warrant Officer (then Sergeant First Class), U.S. Army, Advisory Team 162, U.S.
Military Assistance Command
Place and date: Northeast
of Katum, Republic of Vietnam, 24 May 1970
Entered service at: Los
Angeles, CA
Born: 19
November 1938, Albuquerque, NM
Citation: WO Rocco distinguished himself when he volunteered to accompany a medical evacuation team on an urgent mission to evacuate 8 critically wounded Army of the Republic of Vietnam personnel. As the helicopter approached the landing zone, it became the target for intense enemy automatic weapons fire. Disregarding his own safety, WO Rocco identified and placed accurate suppressive fire on the enemy positions as the aircraft descended toward the landing zone. Sustaining major damage from the enemy fire, the aircraft was forced to crash land, causing WO Rocco to sustain a fractured wrist and hip and a severely bruised back. Ignoring his injuries, he extracted the survivors from the burning wreckage, sustaining burns to his own body. Despite intense enemy fire, WO Rocco carried each unconscious man across approximately 20 meters of exposed terrain to the Army of the Republic of Vietnam perimeter. On each trip, his severely burned hands and broken wrist caused excruciating pain, but the lives of the unconscious crash survivors were more important than his personal discomfort, and he continued his rescue efforts. Once inside the friendly position, WO Rocco helped administer first aid to his wounded comrades until his wounds and burns caused him to collapse and lose consciousness. His bravery under fire and intense devotion to duty were directly responsible for saving 3 of his fellow soldiers from certain death. His unparalleled bravery in the face of enemy fire, his complete disregard for his own pain and injuries, and his performance were far above and beyond the call of duty and were in keeping with the highest traditions of self-sacrifice and courage of the military service.
References:
CW2 Rocco Medal of Honor Citation
http://history.amedd.army.mil/MOH/roccol.html
Oral History Interview with CW2 Louis R. Rocco
http://ameddregiment.amedd.army.mil/moh/bios/roccoInt.html
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