Victor Valeriano

First...saying goodbye. This is a hard post.

Vic Valeriano served with my husband in a LRRP/Ranger unit in Vietnam. I met him at a reunion in San Antonio several years ago.

Vic was supposed to be around for at least another 20 reunions. He was fun, intelligent, soft spoken and always made a point of making everyone feel included. As far as I have heard, he never missed a reunion after being found by accident while in Washington DC. Vic died yesterday of complications of an infected foot injury and diabetes. He will be sorely missed.

Victor Valeriano... Ranger Hall of Fame member.

The following is courtesy of the Fort Benning Ranger Hall of Fame website....

SERGEANT VICTOR D. VALERIANO

Sergeant Victor Valeriano is inducted into the Ranger Hall of Fame for exceptional valor during participation in armed conflict. In numerous encounters with the enemy from December 1966 through January 1968, and in particular, on January 20, 1968, Sergeant Valeriano displayed uncommon courage and outstanding leadership qualities. While leading a 6-man LRRP unit in Thien Phouc on January 20, 1968, Sergeant Valeriano and his men came under a withering crossfire from a superior enemy force which quickly resulted in every member of the team being wounded, with three ultimately dying from their wounds. Unable to withdraw his team due to the crossfire, Sergeant Valeriano, though wounded himself and the only remaining effective fighting element f his team mounted a defense of his team’s position, successfully repelling both a frontal and flanking assault. During the ensuing firefight Sergeant Valeriano returned a number of enemy grenades thrown into his position. His tenacious defense of his team’s position eventually caused the enemy element to withdraw. Sergeant Valeriano’s courageous actions and steadfast commitment to his team saved the lives of the three remaining members. His conduct reflects the highest standards of the Ranger tradition.
RANGERS LEAD THE WAY!!