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Pamela LaVerne Jeans-Historian
to remember
Marine PFC Henry Vassallo.
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Contact Info
Date of Passing Dec 24, 1953
Official Badges
Unofficial Badges
Additional Information
Last Known Activity:
St John's Cemetery Queens County Long Island, NY
Other Comments:
1953 Details behind Award The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the NAVY AND MARINE CORPS MEDAL posthumously to
CORPORAL HENRY R VASSALLO, UNTIED STATES MARINE CORPS,
for services as set forth in the following
Citation:
"For heroic conduct in attempting to rescue the occupants of a crashed helicopter in Korea on the 24 Dec 1953. While on duty at an observations post on the top of an extremely high and precipitous ridge, Cpl Vassallo observed a helicopter approaching a landing pad adjacent to his position. While hovering approximately twenty-five feet above the landing area, the helicopter suddenly dropped and side-slipped onto the pad, damaging the landing gear and resting precariously on the edge of a cliff with a sheer six-hundred and fifty-foot drop. Aware of the plight of the passengers, Cpl Vassallo rushed forward to the imperiled aircraft and crawled under the large horizontal rotor in an attempt to assist the occupants from the plane before the vibration of the rotors could force the helicopter over the precipice. As he gallantly moved forward, a portion of the damaged landing gear collapsed and one of the revolving rotor blades struck him, inflicting fatal injuries. By his inspiring initiative, courageous actions and self sacrificing efforts in behalf of others, Cpl Vassallo upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for others."
Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton is the major West Coast base of the United States Marine Corps. It is located on the Southern California coast, in San Diego County, and bordered by Oceanside to the south, Cleveland National Forest, Orange and Riverside counties to the north, and Fallbrook to the east.
The base is split into North and South and was established in 1942 to train U.S. Marines for service in World War II. By October 1944, Camp Pendleton was declared a "permanent installation" and by 1946, it became the home of the 1st Marine Division. It was named after Major General Joseph Henry Pendleton (1860–1942), who had long advocated setting up a training base for the Marine Corps on the west coast. Today it is the home to myriad Operating Force units including the I Marine Expeditionary Force and various training commands.
