Eric Paul Mistretta

Specialist Four
C TROOP, 1ST SQDN, 10TH CAVALRY, 4 INF DIV
Army of the United States
08 February 1950 - 28 August 1970
Metairie, Louisiana
Panel 07W Line 019

4 INF DIV 10TH CAV RGT
Armor

Purple Heart, National Defense, Vietnam Service, Vietnam Campaign

The database page for Eric Paul Mistretta

25 Apr 2001

He was known as Spike to most of the guys in the platoon. Like the rest of us, he was a boy put in a place where men shouldn't have had to be. But like the rest of us, he did what he was told and didn't ask questions.

He was taken from us in an ambush while trying to get to a downed helicopter. I remember him being one of the first to volunteer for the mission. But his selflessness was just one of his many admirable traits. He was the type person that everyone liked to hang out with.

It has been 30 years since he left us. But, I still think about him, and how fortunate I was to have gotten to know him. I try not to dwell on the bad times. I would much rather remember all of the fun times we had. I remember one time just days before it happened, he had gotten a care package from his folks. It had some Jiffy-Pop pop corn in it. We stayed in his bunker until two or three in the morning eating pop corn and swapping stories about home.

Spike, I think I speak for everyone who was fortunate enough to have known you, when I say that we love you, brother, and we miss you so very much.

REST ON UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN

From a friend,
Jim Pitts
epitts@alltel.net

A Note from The Virtual Wall

On 28 August 1970 UH-1H tail number 69-15025 from D Troop 1/10 Cavalry was shot down during a troop insertion. Five men died in the crash, and another died of gunshot as troopers from C Troop 1/10 moved to secure the crash site. The six dead were
  • C Troop, 1/10
    • SP4 Eric P. Mistretta, Metairie, LA

  • D Troop, 1/10 (aboard 69-15025)
    • SSG Thomas H. Messer, Springfield, VA (passenger)
    • SGT Raymond L. Hodges, Lawton, OK (passenger)
    • SGT Nick E. Sanchez, Chama, CO (passenger)
    • SP4 Joe Luna, Azusa, CA (passenger)
    • CPL Donald R. Smith, Universal City, TX (door gunner)




Top of Page

Virtual Wall icon
www.VirtualWall.org

Back to
To alpha index M
LA State Index . Panel 07W
10TH CAV RGT Index

Contact Us



With all respect
Jim Schueckler, former CW2, US Army
Ken Davis, Commander, United States Navy (Ret)
Memorial first published on 25 Apr 2001
Last updated 08/10/2009