SPC John Tacetta

Army | Infantryman

Dates of Service: Sep 1976 - Sep 1980

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Bio

A lost boy who joined the Service and ran away from home. Fired a whole lot of ordnance, thankfully never in anger. Soldier, autoworker, roofer, contractor, research assistant and engineer. Got my pound of flesh back when Uncle Sam helped me pay for my college education and walk into my first home. Stopped marrching years ago, but still keeping my gig line straight. Just waiting on a flag now.

Military Experiences

Oct 1979 - Sep 1980

Infantryman

101st ABN, XVIII ABN Corps, FORSCOM | Fort Campbell, KY

Nov 1979 - Aug 1980

Grenadier

2-503 IN, 173rd IBCT(A), USAREUR | Caserma Ederle, Italy

Love the patch the 3rd Herd sports, but this battalion was attached to the 101st ABN in Fort Campbel in my time as Air Assault. The Bn is on jump status now, but their current unit photo shows off a Blackhawk, not a C-130. Just saying. I was really proud to be in this Battalion as my great-uncle dropped on Corregidor with this unit - the drop depicted on the unit crest it sports today. Got an Air Assault badge. First line company to get Blackhawks. Flew to Panama on a C5 and traipsed around the jungle. Drew down the ammo bunkers after Operation Eagle Claw went awry in the Iranian desert and fired it all off after we stood down. Flew nap of the earth night and day with the pilots of what was to become the 160th SOAR during the summer of 1980. Best roller-coaster rides you could wish for.

Dec 1976 - Oct 1979

Infantryman

3rd ID, XVIII ABN Corps, FORSCOM | Fort Stewart, GA

The 3rd ID was attached to USAEUR in my time and pretty much roamed Bavaria with a primary mission of keeping a lid on the Fulda Pass. I flew into Europe on a KLM 747 deadhead from JFK to Frankfurt on Christmas Day. It was the first time I had ever flown in a commercial airliner and I was the only passenger on board. It was certainly the best flight I've ever had. I held orders to go to the 8th ID, but the repple-depple had different ideas and I was rerouted to Aschaffenburg in the Spessart Mountains of northern Bavaria where I had to sew on all new patches.

Dec 1978 - Sep 1979

Colonel's Driver

HHC, 3rd Bde, 3rd ID V Corps | Aschaffenburg, Germany

Drove the Bde XO around Germany in a jeep during field operations and a sedan otherwise.

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