Petty Officer Jim Cava
“The
Story of an American Patriot”
Jim Cava was born on
September 5, 1948 in Hackensack, NJ.
Most of his life was spent growing-up in Carlstadt, NJ. It
was
in this small industrial town in this great land of America
where Jim had the fortunate opportunity and wonderful experience
to
have played Little League
and
Babe Ruth League Baseball and to have run track for his parish
community. In 1953 Jim began
his formal education at St.
Joseph’s Grammar School in East Rutherford, NJ.
He was a good student and a devout Christian
as he maintained a
love for God that was faithfully strong. Jim attended St.
Mary’s High School in Rutherford, NJ graduating in
1966.
He was an average student, a member of the Student
Council and Glee Club and he participated in football, baseball and
track.
Aside from having a sincere
and enduring love for his Creator, Jim likewise held an earnest and steadfast love for his
Country.
Patriotism was natural to him. He will never forget as a
15-year-old sophomore how deeply concerned and saddened he felt when
the news media reported the first American to be killed in action
(KIA) in the Viet Nam War. Oftentimes, he would think of his
fellow Americans serving their country so far away and not being
there with them.
Jim believed it to be an
honor and his
duty to serve
his country.
At the age of 17, he enlisted in the United States Navy.
His
parents reluctantly but willingly signed the consent papers for they
kindly respected his
heartfelt
patriotism. After high school
graduation, Jim entered boot camp at the U.S. Naval Training Center,
Great Lakes, IL. He was assigned to Company 739,
26th
Battalion, 2nd Regiment. Jim was designated 2nd
Platoon Leader and with his guidance he helped his Company earn:
The Regimental “E”
Flag, The “I” Means Flag and The Star Means Flag. Because of
his outstanding accomplishment and military presence Jim was awarded
the most prestigious honor to be given to a recruit: “Recruit Brigade Commander” and on March 9, 1967
he
had the distinct privilege of leading the hundreds of naval recruits
at Recruit Training Command in the Graduation Ceremony.
Jim received his training for Hospital Corpsman at Basic Hospital
Corps School, Class “A”, U.S. Naval Hospital Corps School,
San
Diego, CA graduating on December 7, 1967. He
was trained for service with a Marine combat unit in preparation for
jungle warfare at Field Medical Service School, Marine Corps Base,
Camp Pendleton, CA, where he graduated on October 8,
1968. Several days later Jim received orders to serve his
country in the Republic of Viet Nam. He was assigned to India
(I) Company,
3rd Battalion, 5th Marine
Regiment, 1st Marine Division.
Jim's base camp was a village called An Hoa about 17 kilometers
south
of Da Nang. Most of the time, Jim and his fellow Marines
were out in the field, covering the countryside, searching for the
enemy. The “Field” was where the war was, where Charlie (Viet
Cong) was; and they went out there to find him and fight him.
As a Corpsman, Jim’s responsibility was to take care of the medical
needs of a Marine and most importantly to save his life.
The care
of his men was of
utmost importance to Jim, and
he was unyielding in his capacity,
and
in his submission to Duty - Honor - Country. Jim was
confident it was his time to be all that he could be. But fate
would not comply.
The day was November 20, 1968 -
Operation Meade River. In their military briefing the night before, Jim
and his men were told
to expect a significant encounter
with the enemy. In the early morning darkness these
Honorable and Brave Patriotic Americans boarded their transport
choppers and lifted off one by one en route to the LZ (landing
zone). The last thing Jim can remember before getting shot
down by the enemy was the loud roar of the chopper engines with the
unmistakable sound of the chopper blades whirling round and round,
the paradoxical scenic beauty of the peaceful countryside below, and
his rosary in hand as he prayed.
As chopper
approached the LZ, the enemy opened fire. The pilot and
co-pilot were killed instantly and the huge CH-46 went down, tumbled
three times and exploded into a huge ball of fire. In a
violently forceful instant, Jim’s life was transformed into a state
of non-existence. Unconscious, he was pulled to safety from
the burning chopper by a brave fellow Marine, and for hours he laid
helpless in a rice paddy before a Medevac was able to assist and
rescue.
Jim was flown to U.S. Naval Support
Activity (NSA), Da Nang for emergency medical treatment. The
heartfelt
gratitude and admiration he holds for the skilled
professionals of our Navy Medical Corps in preserving his life
remains everlasting. Several days later Jim was flown to U.S.
Naval Hospital Guam, where he awoke from his comatose state.
As he opened his eyes, his first thought was one of thanksgiving; he
was ALIVE. Although he was confused, Jim was not shocked at
what he discovered because somehow intuitively, he knew something
traumatic had happened to him - he just couldn't put it together.
Jim found himself in a hospital room, on a soft
bed, with clean white sheets. His left arm was gone, and his
legs were encased in hard plaster. Insistently, Jim asked questions
in a dire attempt to find out the status of his men, and what had
actually happened. No one really knew. How could they?
They came from two different worlds.
At first he was told that he was the only survivor, and later he was
told that of the seventeen Marines aboard the transport chopper,
five were killed and twelve were seriously wounded.
Painstakingly Jim tried, but was never able to find out exactly what
happened. What he did find out was that his left arm was
severed above the elbow, his legs were crushed below the knees, his
back was fractured in three places, he had received multiple scars,
and that he had contracted a staph infection that was causing
hideous pustules to break out all over his body.
Petty Officer Cava gave his all then and continues to give his all today. Coinciding with his
faithful and everlasting
love for Our Creator,
his earnest and steadfast
love for Our Country and
his
sincere and
enduring
love for Our
Children to
safeguard them from that which
is harmful and
anti-American
Petty Officer Cava established:
“OPERATION RED, WHITE AND BLUE.”
The sole purpose of this non-profit
enterprise is to educate and re-educate Americans, especially Our
Children, to the true meaning and significance of Our American
Heritage, Principles and Patriotism; Imparting awareness-for that
which is Right and respect-for that which is Honorable and Good /
Others and Oneself. Petty Officer Cava achieves
his worthwhile mission through the introduction of
inspirational and motivational Patriotic Programs: Kindergarten to
Second Grade, Third to Fifth Grade,
Sixth to Eighth Grade
and Ninth
to Twelfth Grade for Our Children together with a Patriotic Ceremony for
adults - rightfully and respectfully titled:
“A SALUTE TO THE GREATEST NATION IN THE WORLD,
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.”
Petty Officer Cava believes his life was spared
to foster and uphold Our American Heritage, Principles and
Patriotism
and he is eternally grateful for this and for all his
many blessings as every morning and through the course of his day
he kneels before Our Creator
in humble praise and thanksgiving.
To date, Petty Officer Jim Cava has
proudly given
2,465 Patriotic Presentations
FOR GOD AND COUNTRY
¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶
The Patriotic Programs
made known on this website
shall forevermore be dedicated to:
to the hundreds and hundreds of thousands of
Our Honorable and Brave Patriotic
Americans
Our true American Patriots
¶ Our true American Heroes
made up of all races, colors and creeds
Who have saved us! Who are saving
us!
Who have served us! Who are
serving us!
Who have helped us! Who are
helping us!
Who have supported us! Who
are supporting us!
Who have protected us! Who
are protecting us!
Who have suffered for us! Who
are suffering for us!
Who have sacrificed their lives,
their loves and possessions for us!
And Who are sacrificing their
lives, their loves and possessions for us!
To preserve our great Republic!
To uphold the undeniable principles
for which we stand!
And to defend the unalienable rights
to which all people are endowed!
The following Inspirational and
Motivational Patriotic Programs and
Patriotic Ceremony are available upon
request:
¶
Kindergarten to Second Grade Program
¶
(Thirty minutes)
¶ Third to Fifth Grade Program
¶
(Thirty-five
minutes)
¶ Sixth to Eighth Grade Program
¶
(Forty minutes)
¶ Ninth to Twelfth Grade Program
¶
(Forty-five minutes)
¶ Patriotic Ceremony
¶
(Sixty minutes)
There is no-charge.
An honorarium is graciously and
respectfully accepted.
¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶
Petty
Officer Jim Cava
United
States Navy Retired
“The Patriotic Voice
of America”
Corpsman / 5th
Marines, Vietnam 1968
E-mail:
uspatriot1@optonline.net
Telephone: Land 973w427w3871
/ Cell 973w454w9277
OPERATION RED, WHITE
AND BLUE
www.operationredwhiteandblue.com
Founder and Speaker
FOR GOD AND COUNTRY
¶
GOD BLESS
AMERICA
American Patriotism breeds:
Courage
¶ Friendship
¶ Loyalty
¶ Morality
¶ Responsibility
¶ Strength
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