SGT Eddie Edwin Chervony, Los Angeles, CA on www.VirtualWall.org The Virtual Wall® Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall

27 Oct 1997

My dad is SGT Eddie E Chervony. He was born in Hormigueros, Puerto Rico on May 8, 1947. He was the youngest boy, however the second to the youngest of the seven Chervony children. My dad and his family came to the United States in 1950 and settled in New York. In 1962 they moved to Los Angeles.

In 1966 he graduated from Fremont High School. He and my mother, Carmen Julia Saez, married in August 26, 1966 and two weeks later he left for Fort Ord for boot camp. On September 12, 1966, after being at Ft. Ord for a week, PVT Humphries drew a caricature of my dad.

I was born, while he was in boot camp, in April 1967. My mom says that my dad came to the hospital at night, several hours after I was born. She remembers waking up and there he was, in his uniform, she thought she was dreaming. She asked him if he had seen me, he said yes. He knew that I was his, because I was the only white baby in the nursery. :)

My dad left for Vietnam in August 1967, I was four months old. I don't have any pictures of me with him. I remember seeing a picture once, or was it only a dream? I was sitting on his lap. I don't know who had the picture, but boy do I wish I had it in my possession. The only father/daughter picture.

My dad served with A Battery, 1st Battalion, 77th Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. He was involved in the Tet '68. He was involved in the Battle of Hue, as well as Operation Pegasus.

My dad only had 3 months left of his tour when he was killed. He was killed the early morning of May 5, 1968 at Landing Zone (LZ) Peanuts. LZ Peanuts was located near the Lang Vei Special Forces camp, west of Khe Sanh, which is south of the DMZ. He died while rescuing 6 men he did not know. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross and Silver Star. The DSC is the second highest medal awarded. I hope to one day upgrade the DSC to the Medal of Honor.

I was my dad's only child and I have vowed to him, and his grandson, "Little Eddie", to keep his memory alive.

I miss you dad. . . your little girl. . .

Jeanette Chervony
jeanette@walldads.org

Eddie's grandson Eddie

The President of the United States
takes pride in presenting the,

DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS

EDDIE EDWIN CHERVONY

Sergeant
Army of the United States

for service as set forth in the following:

CITATION:

For extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam: Sergeant Chervony distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 5 May 1968 at Landing Zone Peanuts, west of Khe Sanh. Late at night he detected the start of an attack against his battery position by an estimated North Vietnamese's Army sapper battalion. He immediately organized his three-man bunker, which was on the portion of the perimeter facing the brunt of the attack, and directed his companions' fire into the assaulting troops. His element's ammunition was soon expended and close fighting developed along the perimeter. Sergeant Chervony led his men across and expanse of unprotected exposed terrain to secure an unmanned machine gun. After directing his men to obtain additional ammunition for the weapon, he began placing withering fire into the aggressors. After exhausting his ammunition for the weapon, he took charge of personnel in adjacent positions and directed their deadly fire into the enemy, blunting the attack. Learning that several positions had been overrun, Sergeant Chervony unselfishly exposed himself to the continuing hostile fusillade to assist in rescuing the casualties in them. On separate trips, he evacuated five seriously wounded across one hundred meters of open terrain to a place of safety. When carrying a sixth man to the friendly lines he was cut off by enemy force and was attacked with grenades and satchel charges. While protecting his wounded companion from the satchel charge by covering him with his own body, he received a mortal wound. Sergeant Chervony's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty, at the cost of his life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.

Visit my full memorial to
Eddie Chervony

Sergeant Chervony's daughter is webmaster of
Sons and Daughters in Touch