Community honored local first responders West Milford A military tattoo is a military drum performance in honor of men and women in uniform. This past Saturday at West Milford High School there was plenty of that and so much more. There were bagpipes, flutes, violins, trumpets and tubas. The West Point Military Academy's Wildcats, a band with a 220-year history, played along with the Colonial Musketeers Fifes and Drum Corp from Hackettstown. Clifton High School Band, a regular at the West Milford tattoo, didn't disappoint. And of course, the award-winning West Milford High School Band tied it all together. Saturday night was a tribute to some of West Milford's first responders, including Adrian Birdsall, a former chief with Fire Company #6 who has given 50 years of service to this community. But Saturday's tattoo, sponsored by the West Milford High School Band, had special meaning for one man in particular. He was a member of the Color Guard, carrying the American flag. Francis Carrasco served as a sergeant in the United States Army as part of the 39th Artillery. He was located near the demilitarized zone in South Vietnam from 1969 to 1970. His company's assignment was to protect four big guns capable of sending missles to targets 27 miles away. The North Vietnamese wanted these guns destroyed. On the night of April 13,1970 Carrasco's position was attacked by an overwhelming enemy force. The perimeters were breached and the hill was overrun. It was not until the next morning that his unit even called for air support because they feared bombing their own troops in error in the dark of the night. The American servicemen stood their ground all night and, after a day of fighting, the enemy retreated. The four guns remained intact. Over 60 enemy troops were dead along with 14 American soldiers. A bomb landed directly in Carrasco’s bunker, killing his friend right beside him and leaving his own body torn by shrapnel. Because the company clerk of their division was one of many helicoptered out after losing his own leg, the administrative work was never completed to award the Purple Heart to Carassco. Only recently did he receive it - in the mail - without any presentation. That changed on Saturday. To Carassco’s surprise, the captain of the Color Guard, Joseph J. Barattia, formally presented the Purple Heart to Carassco, nearly 42 years later. To see more photos from the tattoo, go to www.westmilfordmessenger.com and click on photos.