Joseph Thomas Tiefenthaler

Specialist Fourth Class Joseph Thomas Tiefenthaler was born on October 19, 1945 to Mr. & Mrs. Francis Tiefenthaler. He grew up in Brooklawn, NJ, at 228 Nansen Avenue. Known to friends and classmates as Tieffy, he graduated from high school in 1965. He was drafted into the United States Army and served as an infantryman.

SP4 Tiefenthaler began his tour of duty in Vietnam on August 2, 1966. On May 13, 1967 he was killed in action by small arms fire in Binh Dinh Province, South Vietnam. He was one of three members of Company B lost that day, the others being Specialist 4th Class Gary R. Zywica of Detroit, MI, and Private First Class Joseph Cavarocchi of Philadelphia, PA. He was 21 years old and was single.

He was awarded the Purple Heart. Joseph Thomas Tiefenthaler is honored on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on Panel 19E, Row 114.

B Company, 1/7th Cavalry, lost three men on 13 May 1967:

SP4 Joseph T. Tiefenthaler, Brooklawn, NJ;
SP4 Gary R. Zywica, Detroit, MI; and
PFC Joseph Cavarocchi, Philadelphia, PA.

Hey Tieffy, just want you to know someone from the class of ’65 still thinks about you and our other fallen classmates. Some of us made it back home and it doesn’t seem fair that some of us didn’t. I’ll be sure to see you in the next go around.

— From a classmate and friend — June 8, 2006

Joe was in B Company, 1st Bn., 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Air Cavalry Division. I remember the day Joe was killed — it was an ugly day and for the next 7 days too. We were caught on top of a hill on top of an NVA regiment tunnel system. The NVA kept coming up the hill for the next 6 nights, wave after wave. We called the hill FRAG HILL because we tossed at least 10,000 frags. I miss Joe, we were friends. God Bless him and his family.

— Chuck Dougherty, Buddy in Vietnam, Portland, OR — August 16, 2004

Foxhole Buddy

He was an outstanding, courageous trooper in B Company, 1st Battalion, 7th U.S. Cavalry Regiment, 1st Air Cavalry Division. This Fallen Hero Trooper paid the ultimate sacrifice serving our country in the Vietnam War. He fought for our country faithfully in the firm belief that doing so others may enjoy the liberty and freedoms that we treasure. Relatives, friends & countrymen be proud that this outstanding trooper was an infantry soldier in the “Cav.” The same 7th U.S. Cavalry Regiment of General Custer fame. The 1st Air Cavalry Division had the highest number of combat losses of all divisions that fought in the Vietnam War at 5,408; the 7th U.S. Cavalry Regiment had 1,418, wounded-in-action estimated at over 20,000. A very proud, loud, and hardy GarryOwen to you, from a fellow grunt (1967–1968) in B-1-7, 1st Cavalry Division.

— Charles Dougherty — September 4, 2004

In Our Thoughts

Dear Joseph, I didn’t know you but I worked in a deli that your Mom and Dad visited often. They were such a nice couple and you were the pride of their life. I’ll never forget their awful sadness the day you died. I thought of you often over the years in their memory. You became my unknown soldier and my touchstone to the Vietnam War. I’m glad I found your name on this site. May you all be together again one day. God Bless you.

— Albert Patterson, Knew Mom and Dad, Haddon Heights, NJ — September 17, 2003