John Duffy was born on June 9, 1947. In 1966, he graduated from Bayonne High School. His home of record is Bayonne, NJ. He worked as a machinist for Sharp Brothers General Machine Works before entering the US Army, where he attained the rank of Private First Class (PFC).

Duffy completed nine weeks of advanced infantry training at Fort Polk, LA. His last week of training was spent in guerilla warfare exercises. He left for Vietnam on February 23, 1968, and was assigned to Company C, 2nd Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division.

On April 28, 1968, while his unit was engaged with a numerically superior enemy force, Duffy repeatedly exposed himself to heavy hostile fire to administer first aid and move wounded GIs to safety. He died at the age of 20.

Duffy was awarded the Bronze Star (accepted by his mother a year after his death), the first Oak Leaf Cluster to the Bronze Star with a “V” device for heroism, the Air Medal and the Purple Heart.

Sources: Newspaper clippings and NJVVMF.
12/17/2024