Frank Anthony D'Amico

The database page for Frank Anthony D'Amico

10 May 2001 Killed in Action, 4/13/66, Ho Bo Woods Frank was Airborne and Path Finder qualified. He was the 3rd Platoon Leader, Bravo Company. He earned his first Combat Infantry Badge in the Dominican Republic (1965) and was awarded his star in Vietnam. And he is remembered by his comrades in the BOBCATS - the 5th Infantry Regiment From a fellow Bobcat, Randy Kethcart randy@bobcat.ws

19 May 2001 I am Theodore (Ted) T. Jagosz, Captain, Infantry, USAR. I bunked with Frank D'Amico, swapped jump stories and other lies with him, and fought with my 2nd Platoon alongside his 3rd Platoon during his first and last fights. Other tributes may come from the hearts of a loving family; mine are from the perspective of a fellow paratrooper, infantryman, comrade in arms, and loving friend. The After Action Report for "Operation Kalamazoo", included on the 5th Infantry Regiment web site, very dryly states the nuts and bolts of the combat that day. On page 7 it lists four other men from B company that were killed that day, all members of Frank's 3rd platoon. Frank was the first man hit and down. It is a profound testament to Frank's leadership and his character that four of his men, including Sergeant Clinton Fackrell (an NCO whom I knew personally and admired) risked and lost their lives in an effort to assist their fallen leader. Another man universally admired in B Company was the Company Senior Medic, Sp/5 Jimmie L. Scott. Sp/5 Scott rushed from the Company Commander's vehicle to assist Frank. At his side or close by, Scott took two bullets to the head. Although "Scottie" was conscious when I helped put him on the med-evac helicopter (next to Frank), he died of his wounds on 1 June 1966. I hope all of us, relatives and friends, can take some comfort from the fact that all six of these men were anointed by Fr. Clarence Olszewski moments after they were hit. Another solace should be the fact that the day Frank died he was surrounded by men who were so loved and totally dedicated to one another. May all of us continue to be inspired and live by the words: "Greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." (John, 15:13) I don't wish to reawaken anyone's grief, but rather to assure all who loved him, family and soldiers alike, that not only because of "The Sacrament" is Frank enjoying eternal life in the Bosom of God but he didn't have to spend any time in Purgatory because, as Father Gigliello, the Chaplain of the Catholic Airborne Chapel at Fort Benning, used to say, "All troopers who die in combat go straight to Heaven. They already pulled their tour in Hell!" Lastly, I want Frank's relatives to know and understand that their hearts should beat proudly at the memory of such a fine soldier. Ted Jagosz Platoon Leader, 2nd Platoon, Bravo Company bobcatb26@pacificnet.net

06 May 2005 REMEMBERED by a friend and fellow soldier who served with Lt. D'Amico in Charlie Company, 3/325 Airborne Infantry in the Dominican Republic. E-Mail will be forwarded by the Webmaster@VirtualWall.org

A Note from The Virtual Wall The six men killed in the action described by Ted Jagosz above were 1LT Frank A. D'Amico, Gloucester, MA SGT Clinton B. Fackrell, Willits, CA SP4 Green Conley, Phoenix, AZ SP5 Jimmie L. Scott, Montgomery, AL (HHC with B1/5) SP4 Phillips La Marr, Compton, CA PFC James R. Taylor, Teaneck, NJ

The point-of-contact for this memorial is a fellow Bobcat, Randy Kethcart randy@bobcat.ws 10 May 2001

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With all respect
Jim Schueckler, former CW2, US Army
Ken Davis, Commander, United States Navy (Ret)
Last updated 05/09/2005