35th Infantry (Cacti) Regiment Association


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  PFC Joseph Mandarino    In memory of our fallen brother

"We few, we happy few, we band of brothers; for he to-day that sheds his blood with me shall be my brother"



Bravo Company
1st Battalion
35th Infantry Regiment

Vietnam War


"Not For Fame or Reward
Not For Place or For Rank
But In Simple Obedience To
Duty as They Understood It"

National Defense Service Medal Vietnam Service Medal Vietnam Campaign Medal Vietnam Campaign Medal



The 35th Infantry Regiment Association salutes our fallen brother, PFC Joseph Mandarino, who died in the service of his country on February 7th, 1968 in Quang Nam Province, Vietnam. The cause of death was listed as Small Arms/AW. At the time of his death Joseph was 21 years of age. He was from North Bellmore, New York. Joseph is honored on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial at Panel 38E, Line 6.

The decorations earned by PFC Joseph Mandarino include: the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Purple Heart, the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal and the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm Unit Citation.


Joe is buried in the Long Island National Cemetery in Farmingdale, NY. Section N Site 30749A. (Visited by Jim Hall 5/27/06)Joe was awarded an ARCOM for Heroism

Hi Joe,
It's been a long time since that fateful day. We fought well that day and you did good. Why, why my friend, did you have to throw that damn grenade.
You lay next to me now and we are pinned down. I do the best I can to comfort you. I want so much for all this not to happen but the fight is so bad. We called for medivac for you my friend but they shot it down. Now as you slip away I wish you well. I tell you to have a good journey and the war is over for you. I hear you whisper, "tell my family I love them" then you slip away. You Joe will always be remembered by me as long as I live. You Joe were a good person and a good soldier.
I have visited the wall and touched your name and shed my tears and felt your presence....Mike McCann, B, 1/35th Inf

We started school together at Waltoffer Ave School & Newbridge Road. We lost touch until JHS. Joey treated me like a long lost relative when we reconnected in JHS. He was a wonderful person and for some reason his is the name that still chokes me up when I talk about him. I looked for his name on The Wall and all I could picture is a small schoolboy. I wish I knew him better or longer -- I guess we all do. RIP, Joe.
Posted by: Robert L. Scutellaro
Email: rls2nd@optonline.net
Relationship: We grew up together
Saturday, August 27, 2005


BILL FERRARA
CLEARWATER_GUY1@YAHOO.COM
NEIGHBOR
13824 61 ST N CLEARWATER FL 33760 USA
REMEMBERING A FALLEN HERO
I LIVED DOWN THE BLOCK FROM JOEY I REMEMBER THE TRIUMPH CONVERTABLE HE USED TO DRIVE HE WAS ALOT OLDER THAN ME BUT ALWAYS WAS FRIENDLY TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD KIDS
HE WAS THE FIRST IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD TO GO TO VIETNAM AND WHEN WORD OF HIS PASSING REACHED US IT BROUGHT THE REALITY OF THE WAR HOME TO ALL OF US
WE ALL FELT LIKE WE HAD LOST AS BIG BROTHER I HAVENT BEEN TO THE WALL BUT DO WANT TO GO AND FIND HIS NAME AND SAY THANK YOU FOR KEEPING OUR COUNTRY FREE AND PAYING THE ULTIMATE PRICE FOR FREEDOM

GOD BLESS YOU JOEY
Nov 10, 2007