Montville Library Accepts Book from Medal-of-Honor Recipient

In the lobby of Montville Township's municipal building are two blown up displays of Montville Resident Bob Seijas in his article in the Garand Collectors Journal in 2011.

The article is about Montville Native Hector Cafferata, who was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in Korea," said Seijas. On Monday, Seijas presented a war book donated by Cafferata to the Montville library board at their meeting. 

The book, ‘Medal of Honor: Portraits of Valor beyond the Call of Duty,’ details several veterans, including Cafferata, “a former Montville boy who was awarded the medal for his extraordinary actions as a Marine in the Korean War,” said Seijas.

One of the photos attached to this article is of Hector Cafferata when he recently stopped by to drop off the book and asked Bob Seijas to donate it for him. The rifle he is holding is the M1 Garand, the type he carried as a Marine in Korea 1950.

"Hector said to me that he was donating the book, 'To show people it's not always about killing.  Many of the awards are for heroism in saving lives,'" said Seijas.

Cafferata “grew up in Montville and attended Boonton High School since Montville didn't have its own back then.  He joined the Marine Reserve unit in Dover after graduating and volunteered for Korea almost as soon as that war began in June 1950.  He currently lives in Venice, Florida and is still active and energetic,” said Seijas.

In Seijas’ GCA article, he writes,

“Hector Cafferata was a member of “F” Company, 7th Marines, who defended Fox Hill at the Chosin Reservoir. The battle for which he was awarded the medal happened on November 28, 1950. In honor of the 60th anniversary of this historic feat of arms, I decided to write up the details of Cafferata’s extraordinary heroism and display it more prominently in the building’s lobby.”

"The town of Cape Coral named a school after him.  He really is a genuine hero," added Seijas.

Check back with Patch this week for Seijas’ full article.