Al Conetto

Al Conetto was born on November 13, 1941 in San Jose, California. He attended schools in San Jose to include San Jose State University where he received BS and MA degrees. He graduated as a 2LT in the Army Infantry in January 1964 and immediately reported to Ft. Benning, GA for the Infantry Basic Course and Airborne School. He first went to Vietnam in August 1965 with the 1st Air Cavalry Division as a mortar platoon leader in C Company, 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry. He was then transferred to the 173d Airborne Brigade at Bien Hoa in October and was assigned to A Company, 1st Battalion (Airborne), 503rd Infantry as a rifle platoon leader. One month later he participated in Operation Hump in War Zone D.