Hector A. Cafferata, Jr., American soldier, Died at 86

  Military

Hector Albert Cafferata, Jr. was born on November 4, 1929, and died on April 12, 2016.

He was a United States Marine.

He received the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions at the Battle of Chosin Reservoir during the Korean War.

Cafferata first enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve on February 15, 1948, and was a member of the 21st Reserve Infantry Battalion at Dover, New Jersey, until called to active duty on September 6, 1950.

During November 1950, Pvt Cafferata single-handedly held off a regimental strength enemy and saved the wounded Marines by hurling away a live grenade that had landed in their midst, at the cost of serious personal injury.

Hector A. Cafferata, Jr passed away at 86 yrs old.