30 Apr 2008 Esiquio A. Cantu, of First Street in Bono, Ohio, was known to his family and friends as "Arnie". Private First Class Cantu was a soldier in Company C, 1st Battalion, of the 28th Infantry Regiment, of the 1st Infantry Division. He died on 26 March 1967, after stepping on a land mine in Binh Duong Province, South Vietnam. Arnie Cantu is perhaps best remembered by another soldier John Amoroso, of Piedmont, West Virginia, who to this day is burdened with grief when he thinks of the friend he lost. PFC Amoroso said he was with Arnie Cantu from the time Arnie arrived in Vietnam on 7 January 67. Amoroso said, "Arnie had my back, and I had Arnie's back. Only I didn't have his back when Arnie stepped on the anti-personnel mine that day", his voice breaking in emotion, Amoroso added, "The VC or NVA knew we would be back as we were providing perimeter security for the Song Be River Bridge." The bridge was an important crossing point along Highway 1A which was heavily used by U.S. Army convoys. For veterans who may have served in Vietnam, the river bridge was located southwest of Phouc Vinh. Amoroso said Arnie Cantu survived the initial force of the mine and that a book in his side trouser pocket had absorbed much of the blast. With Cantu bleeding profusely, members of the 15-man patrol desperately called for a medical helicopter. John Amoroso said the "dust off" (a common term for the medical helicopter) never came and he held on to Arnie until he died. PFC Cantu was awarded the Bronze Star in addition to other medals for his service in Vietnam. Arnie Cantu graduated from Clay High School, in Oregon, Ohio, in June 1965. Note: This first-person account differs from the commendation narrative contained in the General Order for Esiquio Cantu's Award of the Bronze Star with "V" Device. From the Oregon (Ohio) Vietnam Memorial Group Researcher, Jerry Eversman P O Box 167661, Oregon, Ohio 43616 jeversman@aol.com DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY HEADQUARTERS 1ST INFANTRY DIVISION APO San Francisco 96375 15 April 1967 GENERAL ORDERS NUMBER 10138 AWARD OF THE BRONZE STAR MEDAL 1. TC 320. The following AWARD is announced posthumously. CANTU, ESIQUIO A US51825280 PRIVATE FIRST CLASS E3 United States Army Company C 1st Battalion 28th Infantry Awarded: Bronze Star with "V" Device Date action: 26 March 1967 Theater: Republic of Vietnam Reason: For heroism in connection with military operations against a hostile force: On this date, Private First Class Cantu was serving as a rifleman while on a company size search and destroy operation. With his unit, he had moved several hundred meters through the dense jungle west of their battalion base camp when they were suddenly subjected to intense Viet Cong fire from their left flank. Private First Class Cantu immediately moved to the area of the heaviest fighting and began to place accurate fire on the insurgent force. As the battle increased in intensity, the American unit sustained several casualties. Private First Class Cantu saw several comrades who lay wounded and exposed to the intense hostile fire. With complete disregard for his own safety, he crawled to the casualties and used his body as a shield against the Viet Cong fire as he treated their wounds. He then picked up one of the soldiers and carried him to an evacuation helicopter landing zone 50 meters to the rear. Private First Class Cantu made numerous trips through the insurgent fire to extract the casualties. As he moved toward the battle area to carry another wounded soldier to safety, he stepped on a well concealed Viet Cong mine and was mortally wounded. His decisive and courageous actions when confronted with extreme danger were instrumental in saving many American lives. Private First Class Cantu's outstanding display of aggressiveness, devotion to duty, and personal bravery is in keeping with the finest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, the 1st Infantry Division, and the United States Army. Authority: By direction of the President, under the provisions of Executive Order 11046, 24 August 1962. OFFICIAL: ARCHIE R. HYLE Colonel, GS Chief of Staff

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