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CAMOESAS, A.J. 
aka Alfonso Camoesas - FLORIDA
HE'S BAAAACK 

The Washington Times, in an article reporting an anti-Kerry march here in DC on Sunday, 9/12, ran a picture of 'Sgt Maj AJ Camoesas' leading the way. (Article ran on 9/13/04). Looking at it, he left his Navy Cross at home......but this time replaced with a Distinguished Service Cross !

  • Claims Retired Command Sgt Major
  • Claims Korean War: 7th Inf Div, 32nd INF Reg and 2nd Airborne Ranger Co jumping into Kimpo Airport
  • Claims Chosin --- TRUE
  • Claims Vietnam, 5th Special Forces SOG
  • Claims Navy Cross, TWO Silver Stars, TRIPLE CIB, EIGHT Purple Hearts, FIVE Bronze Stars w/V, Soldiers Medal, Army Comm w/V, Croix de Guerre, South Vietnam Medal of Honor
http://www.floridavets.org/news/Onlinenews/2003/May23_03.htm
Memories don't fade for Korean War vets

http://www.southcom.mil/pa/SoStar/000825.pdf
One Korean War soldier's story

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From:    "Borch, Fred, COL, DoD OGC" 
January 27, 2004
I have a complete list of all Navy Cross recipients; also checked with another historian who has very complete Navy Cross records.

Bottom line:  Camoesas did not receive the Navy Cross at the Chosin Reservoir; he never was awarded the Navy Cross.  It follows that his claim is a fraud.

A few more points: 

Camoesas did receive one Silver Star for gallantry in Korea while a soldier in Korea in 1951---he could have received a second for Korea or one in Vietnam but hard to say.  Consequently, it looks as if he is a legitimate Silver Star recipient but seems to think he deserves a higher award. . .

Also, there were no "special operations" units at Chosin; the Army had no "Special Ops" in those days and neither did the Marines or Navy.  There were
some CIA teams operating in Korea that used mixed civilian/military personnel, but they usually operated well behind the enemy lines.

In any event, it makes no sense for a soldier in special ops at the Chosin  to get a Navy Cross.  For some odd reason folks who like to falsely claim high decorations seem to have a penchant for claiming they got them while on top secret missions, while serving in special operations, and that sort of thing, and that the citations are masked. They apparently don't know that even awards based on TS recommendations and citations all have unclassified citations.

Finally, Camoesas claims to have three awards of the CIB but he only talks about his service in Korea and Vietnam.  Three CIBs, however, required him to have World War II service. 

Bottom line:  Navy Cross is a fraud.  HOWEVER, just to be sure, we should ask the Florida Veterans organization to send us a copy of Alfonso Camoesas'
Navy Cross citation.
 
Hope this helps---
 
Fred
 
Fred Borch
COL, USA
Chief Prosecutor

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Dear Mary and Chuck:
 
... .  Camoesas was a member of the Medical Company, 32nd Infantry Regiment when they landed at Inchon and rotated back to the United States about 1 August 1951.  He was assigned to the 1st Platoon, which was in support of the 1st Bn 32nd Infantry Regiment.  He was an Medical Aidman with Company C, 1st Bn, 32d Inf in the Battle East of the Chosin.  He was with the 1st Bn, 32nd Inf his entire tour in 1950 and 1951.  He was wounded at the Chosin Reservoir and awarded the silver star for action at the Reservior.  He was also awarded the Combat Medical Badge.  Also, after he had returned south from North Korea, their was a rumor that he was being recommended for the Navy Cross by the 1st Marine Div because he had saved a Marine Corps Officer.  I didn't hear anything further about him being awarded the Navy Cross.
 
The last I remember anything about Camoesas, when he left the Company to return to the States he was the Asst Platoon Sergeant of the lst Platoon and he was a SFC E-6, Medical NCO.

Ike 

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1. The 2nd Airborne Ranger Company did not combat jump into Kimpo Airport.
2. The 2nd Airborne Ranger Company was composed of African-American Paratroopers.
3. The Ranger and Special Forces Tabs are skill tabs and are not authorized for wear on the right shoulder. They are only to be worn on the left shoulder. I doubt that he was in Special Operations during Korea. He was not in a Korean War Ranger Company!

RLTW!

Walt Eckhardt, Past President, Ranger Infantry Companies (Airborne) of the Korean War

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We show an E7 CAMOESAS, AFONSO JA who entered the Army in May 1949 and got out 31 May 1969 during which he served at least one tour in Vietnam with an MOS of 91B4L which was Medical NCO.

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Military Order of the Purple Heart:

Hey Mary, never heard of him but will contact National today to see if he is a member of MOPH. 8 PH's--sounds like a Hispanic Audie Murphy! My nose is twitching---will let you know if I locate him. Jim

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A possible another strike -- article says he has (and picture shows him wearing same) CIB 'combat infantry badge' with two stars. That means he served in combat in Three Wars. The badge itself stands for one war.

Steve, Ranger

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Legion of Valor President says:

He would have to show me his citation and General Orders awarding him the NC before I would believe him. I show only three USA receiving the NC in Korea and he is not one of them. I believe he is a want-a-bee so I ask for your help to prove me wrong. 
Phil

http://www.homeofheroes.com/verify/0_NC/ncross_korea_list.html
He is NOT noted as a Navy Cross Recipient for the Korean War.

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Cannot yet locate the existence of a South Vietnam Medal of Honor, even tho we have "Orders Decorations Medals of the Republic of  (South) Vietnam "Nam" by Bob Heller

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Does not seem possible he was awarded a Croix de Guerre:
Background:

The French Croix de Guerre was established on 8th April 1915 to commemorate individual mentions in dispatches during WWI. The medal was again authorized, with changes indicated above, in 1939 for WWII.

During WWI and WWII, the French Croix de Guerre was awarded to both U.S. Army units and to individuals. The Croix de Guerre may be awarded at different levels of command. The level of the awarding command determines the appurtenance worn on the ribbon. The bronze palm indicates awarded by the Army; a silver gilt star by a corps; a silver star by a division; and bronze star by a regiment or brigade.

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This is URL for the Infantry School at Fort Benning's list of recipients of the triple CIB. http://teamhouse.tni.net/scrapbook/cib/cibndx.html  Any guess as to who is not there?  Click on page one.