![\"Portrait](\"https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/2\/2a\/MOH_Versace.jpg\/960px-MOH_Versace.jpg\")
\nCPT, U.S. Army \u2014 Vietnam War<\/strong><\/p>\n Humbert Roque “Rocky” Versace was born on July 2, 1937, in Honolulu, Hawaii, the eldest son of Army Colonel Humbert Versace and author Marie Teresa R\u00edos, whose book inspired the TV series The Flying Nun<\/em>. A 1959 graduate of West Point and a Ranger and paratrooper, he served as an intelligence adviser with Military Assistance Advisory Group Detachment 52 in Ca Mau Province, Vietnam.<\/p>\n On October 29, 1963, while accompanying a Civilian Irregular Defense Group patrol in the U Minh Forest, his unit was ambushed by a reinforced Viet Cong battalion. Severely wounded in the knee and back, Versace fought on, providing covering fire so friendly forces could withdraw from the killing zone and resisting capture until his ammunition was gone. As a prisoner, he assumed command of the American prisoners in his camp, defied interrogation and indoctrination, and made repeated escape attempts despite untreated wounds and brutal privation. Held in irons in an isolation box, he sang coded messages set to popular songs; his fellow prisoners last heard him singing “God Bless America” shortly before he was executed on September 26, 1965. His remains were never recovered; a memorial marker at Arlington National Cemetery honors his memory.<\/p>\n Versace’s Medal of Honor recognizes his heroism both in battle and in captivity \u2014 the first Army Medal of Honor awarded for actions performed while a prisoner of war in Southeast Asia. Following an earlier Silver Star, the medal was awarded posthumously by President George W. Bush on July 8, 2002. Rocky Versace Plaza in Alexandria, Virginia, bears his name, as does his place on Panel 01E of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.<\/p>\n Sources: Wikipedia<\/a> \u00b7 Congressional Medal of Honor Society<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n