Vietnam Memorial Wall

© Picture ~ Copyright Michael V. Drachman 2014 ~ All rights reserved

Spec4 ~ Dennis John Cannito

Panel W19.L117
Site GPS: 38.8911666667,-77.0478333333
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall
5 Henry Bacon Drive Northwest
Washington, District of Columbia


Name ~Dennis John Cannito
From ~ West New York, New Jersey
Service # 145409870
DOB ~ 03/04/1948
Service ~ Army, Selective Service
Rank, Grade ~ Specialist Fourth Class E4
Light Weapons Infantry Army
Date Tour ~ 12/19/1968
Date Casualty ~ 08/26/1969
Casualty Type ~ Hostile Died
Reason ~ Small Arms Fire Casualty
Location ~ Quang Tin province, South Vietnam
196th Light Infantry Brigade, 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry ~ Unit C Company



Citations and Awards:

Purple Heart

The Purple Heart is awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who after 5 April 1917 have been wounded or killed in action against an enemy of the United States or an opposing armed force, while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict, as the result of acts of enemy or hostile opposing forces, as a result of terrorist attacks or attacks on peacekeeping forces since 28 March 1973, or by friendly fire in circumstance as described above.

Bronze Star
The Bronze Star Medal was established by an Executive Order of 4 February 1944 superseded by an Executive Order of 24 August amended by an Executive Order on 28 February 2003. It is awarded to a person who, while serving with or in the United States Army after 6 December 1941, distinguished himself or herself by heroic or meritorious achievement or service in connection with military operations against an armed enemy, or while engaged in military operations against an opposing armed force wherein the United States was not a belligerent party. Actions while in aerial flight are not covered by this award. Awards for acts of heroism rank immediately behind the Silver Star. Awards for acts of merit or meritorious service rank immediately behind the Legion of Merit. Provisions exist for retroactive awards covering the period 7 December 1941 through 1 July 1947, based upon citations in orders, related awards and certificates, and unit awards.

National Defense Service Medal

The National Defense Service Medal is a service medal of the United States Armed Forces established by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1953. The medal was first intended to be a "blanket campaign medal" awarded to service members who served honorably during a designated time period of which a "national emergency" had been declared during a time of war or conflict. It may also be issued to active military members for any other period that the Secretary of Defense designates.
Currently, the National Defense Service Medal is the oldest "service medal" in use by the United States Armed Forces.

Vietnam Service Medal

The Vietnam Service Medal is an military award of the United States Armed Forces established in 1965 by order of President Lyndon B. Johnson. The medal is awarded to recognize service during the Vietnam War and is authorized to service members of each branch of the U.S. Armed Forces, provided they meet the award requirements. The Vietnam Service Medal (VSM) is awarded to any service member who served on temporary duty for more than 30 consecutive days, or 60 non-consecutive days, attached to or regularly serving for one, or more, days with an organization participating in or directly supporting ground (military) operations or attached to or regularly serving for one, or more, days aboard a naval vessel directly supporting military operations in the Republic of Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos within the defined combat zone

Vietnam Campaign Medal

The Vietnam Campaign Medal (Vietnamese: Chiến Dịch Bội Tinh) is a military campaign medal that was awarded by the South Vietnamese government. Established in 1964, it was awarded to members the Republic of Vietnam Military Forces for direct participation in major military operations. The medal was also awarded to foreign military personnel for service in Vietnam. The medal was awarded for two different periods of service. The first period was from 8 March 1949 to 20 July 1954. The second period was from 1 January 1960 to a date to be determined. The government of South Vietnam ceased to exist before an ending period was decided.

The Vietnam Campaign Medal may also be awarded to any service member who, while serving outside the geographical limits of the Republic of Vietnam, provided direct combat support to the Republic of Vietnam armed forces for a period exceeding six months. This stipulation most often applies to members who performed Vietnam War support from Thailand and Japan. In such cases, a U.S. service member must have been awarded either the Vietnam Service Medal or the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (for service in a Vietnam campaign) to be eligible for the Vietnam Campaign Medal. For those members who were wounded by an enemy force, captured by the enemy in the line of duty, or killed in action, the Vietnam Campaign Medal is automatically awarded regardless of total time served in Vietnam