* Posthumously promoted to Corporal
DOB/DOD: July 14, 1951 (Sharon, CT) – August 19, 1970; 19 years old
MARITAL STATUS: Unmarried
ENLISTMENT: September 23, 1969, in Albany, New York.
SERVICE NUMBER: 069440577.
TOUR START DATE: May 5, 1970.
MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY: 11B10, Infantryman.
ON ‘THE WALL’: Panel 08W, Line 124.
HOME OF RECORD: Chatham, New York.
FAMILY: Born to Joseph [WWII Navy veteran] (1928-1995) and Marie Xicart Fratellenico (1928-2001). One sister, Donna M. (1952-1989).
DECORATIONS: He also received the Purple Heart Medal and is on the Roll of Honor at the National Purple Heart Museum in Vail’s Gate, New York. In addition, he received the Bronze Star, Army Commendation, Good Conduct, National Defense Service, and Vietnam Service Medals.
Photo (left) courtesy of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society. Photo (right) courtesy of Facebook.
1968 Chatham (NY) High School photo. Corporal Fratellenico is on the far right of 2nd row. His sister Diane is seated in the middle of the first row.
MEDAL OF HONOR CITATION
AWARDED FOR ACTIONS DURING: Vietnam War
BRANCH OF SERVICE: Army
UNIT: Company B, 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division
GENERAL ORDERS: Department of the Army, General Orders No. 37 (September 6, 1974)
AGE ON THE DAY OF THE EVENT: 20
CITATION:
The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pride in presenting the Medal of Honor (Posthumously) to Corporal Frank Rocco Fratellenico, United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a rifleman with Company B, 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division, in action against enemy aggressor forces at Fire Base Barnett, Quang Tri Province, Republic of Vietnam, on 19 August 1970. Corporal Fratellenico’s squad was pinned down by intensive fire from two well-fortified enemy bunkers. At great personal risk, Corporal Fratellenico maneuvered forward and, using hand grenades, neutralized the first bunker, which was occupied by a number of enemy soldiers. While attacking the second bunker, enemy fire struck Corporal Fratellenico, causing him to fall to the ground and drop a grenade which he was preparing to throw. Alert to the imminent danger to his comrades, Corporal Fratellenico retrieved the grenade and fell upon it an instant before it exploded. His heroic actions prevented death or serious injury to four of his comrades nearby and inspired his unit, which subsequently overran the enemy position. Corporal Fratellenico’s conspicuous gallantry, extraordinary heroism, and intrepidity at the cost of his life, above and beyond the call of duty, are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit on him, his unit, and the United States Army.
Presentation Date and Details: August 8, 1974, at the Blair House, presented by Vice President Gerald R. Ford to his family. WEBMASTER NOTE: This was the same day Richard Nixon resigned as President.
From the Register-Star (Hudson, NY) August 14, 1974
CHATHAM – One month and five days after his 19th birthday, Frank R. Fratellenico of Chatham died in a remote jungle of Vietnam, sacrificing his life so four comrades would live, an action that four years later brought him the Medal of Honor.
Established by a Joint Resolution of Congress on July 12, 1862, the nation’s highest award has been bestowed upon only one other Columbia County serviceman, Civil War Calvary Capt. John W. Blunt.
One of the latest awards was presented posthumously to the young soldier’s parents by then Vice President Gerald Ford in ceremonies at the Blair House in Washington, D.C.
In August 1970, Joseph and Jenny Fratellenico of Route 203 were notified by military authorities that their only son had received fatal wounds during combat.
Military officials again visited the wood-framed farmhouse to inform them “Frankie” had been nominated for the medal. However, it was not until minutes before the ceremony that the Fratellenicos learned the nature of their son’s heroic deed. “… for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call duty in the Republic of Vietnam.”
The citation says: “Corporal Frank R. Fratellenico distinguished himself on August 19, 1970, while serving as a rifleman with Company B, 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry, 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division.”
“During an assault that day against a North Vietnamese Army company near Fire Base Barnett, Quang Tri Province, Corporal Fratellenico’s squad was pinned down by intensive fire from two well-fortified enemy bunkers.”
“At great personal risk, Corporal Fratellenico maneuvered forward and, using hand grenades, neutralized the first bunker, which was occupied by a number of enemy soldiers.”
“While attacking the second bunker, enemy fire struck Corporal Fratellenico, causing him to fall to the ground and drop a grenade which he was preparing to throw. Alert to imminent danger to his comrades, Corporal Frank Fratellenico retrieved the grenade and fell upon it an instant before it exploded.“
“His heroic actions prevented death or serious injury to four of his comrades nearby and inspired his unit, which subsequently overran the enemy position. “
“Corporal Fratellenico’s conspicuous gallantry, extraordinary heroism, and intrepidity at the cost of his life, above and beyond the call of duty, are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit to him, his unit, and the United States Army.”
Two months prior to his death, the young Chatham GI had displayed similar courage by subjecting himself to hostile fire while enabling his squad to capture one enemy sniper and silence another.
For that action, Corporal Fratellenico was presented with the Bronze Star.
The teenage soldier was born in Sharon, Connecticut, on July 14, 1951, and at the age of eight, moved with his parents and three sisters to Chatham.
A slim, muscular youth, Corporal Fratellenico enjoyed hunting, having received his first rifle at the age of nine.
The youth quit Chatham Central School while in the 11th grade and enlisted in the Army in 1969.
Following basic training at Fort Dix, New Jersey, Frank underwent advanced training at Fort Gordon, Georgia.
Following the footsteps of his father and uncles, he then volunteered for airborne training, undertaking the rigorous paratrooper course at Fort Benning, Georgia.
He was assigned in May 1970 to Vietnam, where his 11-month military career ended a short time later.
The Fratellenico family is a close-knit group with a special relationship between father and son.
Joseph Fratellenico was reared in a tough East Harlem neighborhood and was fighting in the Army at the age of 15.
He is proud that he taught his son “how to use his hands…like my father taught me… Frankie was a fighting son of a gun, and he feared no one.”
“He wanted to be the man his father was,” Mrs. Fratellenico said, “he wanted to be strong and as tough as his father.”
There was another side to the young soldier, a young man fighting for his life in the jungles of a faraway country who took the time to write “beautiful, lovely poems” to his mother.
Corporal Fratellenico also wrote personal letters to his father, the last one after the youth’s 19th birthday.
The soldier’s father keeps the letter in his nightstand and frequently rereads it.
The Medal of Honor filled the parents with pride, cloaked with sorrow, “as many old memories were brought back…it wasn’t easy.”
Fratellenico was unable to place into words the emotions he felt when learning of the award. “No words can express it…how can I tell you how beautiful the air is – I can’t see it.
The award presentation was an emotional occasion for the parents and daughter Diane, but it was a memorable one.
What impressed the family most was “Jerry,” Vice President Ford, who, 26 hours after the presentation, would become the 38th President of the United States.
The family arrived in Washington Wednesday as a guest of the government, housed near the White House.
They met President Ford “casually” before the presentation. After the awards, however, the Vice President took his time and mingled with the guests.
101st Airborne, 2nd Brigade gymnasium is named in his honor. Photo contributed by Bernetta Prather, Fort Campbell, Kentucky.
From vvmf.org, posted on June 25, 1999, by James A. (Tony) Woods, Sergeant Major, US Army (retired)
Rest in Peace, Brave Soldier: I was Rocky’s Squad Leader the day he died. He and I were clearing a bunker complex, going from one to the other, taking turns. There are very few days or weeks that go by that I don’t think of him and that day. One of many we try to forget. But not the people. August 19, 1970, at about 11:30 a.m.
From vvmf.org, posted on May 29, 2006, by Dick Hudson
Unlikely Hero: I have learned a lot about life and heroes from Frank’s death. I served with him in training at Fort Gordon, Georgia. We didn’t treat him very good because he was cocky and thought he was tough. Truth is, he ended up being tough.
I wish we had treated him better. I was as close as anyone to being a friend to him in AIT. But he was hard to get to know.
I have learned not to judge others. We never know who is gonna come through in the clutch. I only hope I will be as courageous as him if my turn ever happens.
I miss him and think of him a lot.
From vvmf.org, posted on August 31, 2014, by George R. Kern.
Tragic Loss of a Friend: Frank and I were from the same small town in upstate NY. We attended the same high school, and I knew him well. I had done my tour a year before him and was a couple of weeks from ETS when Frank was killed. His family was devastated, especially his dad, who had been hard on him. I used to pass by his gravesite a lot and always wondered how he would have turned out had he survived. I still think of him from time to time.
Memorial marker to Corporal Fratellenico in front of St. Peter’s Presbyterian Church, 5219 County Road 7, Chatham, New York. Photo by Jeff DeWitt.
In May 1985, he was reinterred to his father’s private land in Spencertown, New York. From the Berkshire Eagle on May 25, 1985:
In 1997, likely because of the death of his father in 1995, Corporal Fratellenico’s remains were exhumed and cremated, and his ashes were taken to Thailand.
END