| The Incident
In 1971, MACV-SOG's Command and
Control North, Central and South were redesignated as Task Force
Advisory Elements 1, 2 and 3, respectively. These titular changes
had little initial impact on actual activities. Their missions
were still quite sensitive and highly classified. Each task force
was composed of 244 Special Forces and 780 indigenous commandos,
and their reconnaissance teams remained actively engaged in
cross-border intelligence collection and interdiction operations.
The USARV TAG (Training Advisory Group) supported the USARV
Special Missions Advisory Group and was composed of U.S. Army
Special Forces and MACV advisors. SMAG formed at Nha Trang from
former personnel from B-53, the MACV Rcondo School cadre, CCN and
CCS to train the South Vietnamese Special Missions Force teams
drawn from LLDB and Ranger units.
Task Force 1 Advisory Element
was forced from its Hickory Hill radio relay site at Dong Tri in
early June 1971. The Hickory Hill post had existed on strategic
Hill 953, in northwest Quang Tri Province at the edge of the DMZ
since June 1968. On 03 June, heavy North Vietnamese artillery
began battering the bunkered Hickory Hill defenses.
On 04 June, five wounded
Special Forces and ten indigenous commandos were medically
evacuated, leaving SSgt. Jon R. Cavaiani and Sgt. John R. Jones
with 23 commandos defending the mountaintop. At about 0400 hours
on 05 June, Jones and Caviani were in a bunker when a hand
grenade was dropped through the air vent, wounding Sgt. Jones in
the leg. Jones left the bunker, and was seen shot in the chest by
an NVA soldier.
An NVA battalion stormed the
summit and captured Hickory Hill on June 5 in adverse weather
which prevented air support. In the bunker, Caviani played dead
as NVA soldiers came in looking for survivors. As his bunker was
set on fire, Caviani ran, burned, to another bunker. He spotted a
helicopter and attempted to signal it, serving only to alert the
enemy to his position. Cavaiani was captured as the last
positions fell.
Later searches failed to turn
up any sign of John R. Jones, dead or alive. Sgt. Jon R. Cavaiani
was released by the Provisional Government of Vietnam on 27 March
1973. He was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his
attempt to defend Hickory Hill.
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