James Cavaco

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Cpl. James Manuel Cavaco (February 12, 1967 – October 3, 1993) was a U.S. Army Ranger who served in Mogadishu, Somalia. He was one of the 18 casualties of the Battle of Mogadishu, and noted for being killed on the Lost Convoy.

James Cavaco's Ranger Regiment: Bravo Company, 3rd Battalion of the 75th Ranger Regiment in Somalia, 1993.

1 Early Life
2 Military Service
3 Book portrayal
4 See also
5 Sources

[edit] Early Life

James Cavaco was born to Joseph and Barbara Cavaco on February 12, 1967, the youngest of three children. He was from Attleboro, Massachusetts, but grew up in Rehoboth and Sandwich. Cavaco attended Upper Cape Regional Vocational Technical School on Cape Cod, majoring in plumbing and heating and graduating in 1985. After graduating, he went on to attend Cape Cod Community College. He wrote music and played guitar in a band with several friends. He worked on and off doing plumbing. He also worked a number of other jobs including being a self-employed landscaper. He made some good friends and had a few girl friends. For the last few years before joining the Army, James was unsure of himself and mainly unhappy with what he was doing with his life.

He enlisted in the Army in the spring of 1991. However, he needed to wait several months before heading to basic training. He gained about twenty pounds in the interim, working out by himself. He ran while wearing a backpack filled with sand and rocks. He completed Airborne Training and earned the coveted Ranger tab. He served with the Bravo Company, 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment at Fort Benning, Georgia.

[edit] Military Service

Cavaco was one of 18 United States military personnel killed in action in Somalia between October 3 and 4, 1993. He had been part of a Rangers unit that climbed down ropes from a helicopter in support of a mission to capture Somali clan leaders. Cavaco was killed on the Lost Convoy. He was 26 years old.