NICHOLAS F CERRATO - SP4
- HOMETOWN:
- paterson
- COUNTY:
- Passaic
- DATE OF BIRTH:
- December 27, 1947
- DATE OF CASUALTY:
- May 10, 1969
- BRANCH OF SERVICE:
- Army
- RANK:
- SP4
- STATUS:
- KIA
- COUNTRY:
- South Vietnam
Biography
Nicholas Frank Cerrato was born on December 27, 1947. His home of record is Paterson, NJ. He attended Passaic Valley High School, where he was active with the stage and lighting crew. He graduated in 1966. Nicholas also belonged to the St. John's Boy Scouts and had been employed at the Big Apple Supermarket in Wayne, before entering the service.
Cerrato was drafted into the US Army in 1968 and completed basic training at Fort Dix, and then advanced training at Fort Polk, LA. Shortly thereafter, he received his orders and arrived in Vietnam on June 14,1968. He served with Company D, 2nd Battalion, 16th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division and attained the rank of Specialist 4 (SP4).
Cerrato earned a Combat Infantry Badge and served as a Ranger before earning a Purple Heart, when the truck he was riding in struck a Vietcong mine in March 1969. He was hospitalized and returned to his unit with just 2 ½ months left on his tour.
On May 10, 1969, Cerrato was killed in action in Binh Duong Province, South Vietnam. He was survived by his mother and brother. Cerrato was 21 years old. He was buried in Calvary Cemetery, Paterson, NJ, with full military honors.
Sources: Viet Nam Remembrance Committee & Clifton War Veterans Monument Committee and NJVVMF.
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