A heartbreaking Letter to the Editor appeared in the Courier Post 75 years ago in the fall of 1945. While World War II had officially ended in the European Theater months earlier, on May 8, 1945, a Marlton mother was still looking for closure.
While I hope and assume Mrs Santoro received additional information about her son in a timely fashion, I wanted to provide it here, even if its 75 years after the fact. It is never too late to recognize an American hero.
(Note: At the time of his enrollment, Arthur Iannuzzi and his mother both lived in Medford. While he was overseas, his widowed mother remarried and moved the household to the Pine Grove section of Marlton. I have been unable to determine the exact location.)
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| The home of Corporal Iannuzzi still stands today |
Arthur Iannuzzi resided and worked as a barber at 6 North Main Street in Medford at the time of his enrollment in 1942 at age 21. He was sent to the European theater and fought in Europe for more than 3 years.
On April 26, 1945, Corporal Iannuzzi was serving with Company A, 157th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division, Seventh U.S. Army. On that day, Corporal Iannuzzi’s unit was in action against German forces while preparing to cross the Danube River near Maxheim, Germany during the Central Europe Campaign. Crawling forward under cover fire from his squad, Corporal Iannuzzi rushed a heavily defended machine gun emplacement with hand grenades and rifle fire, wounding two, killing two and capturing five of the enemy.
Leading his squad through a small ravine, he surprised and took intact an 88-mm anti-tank gun crew. Then, under devastating small arms fire, he advanced to within a few yards of a trench containing enemy riflemen, charged the position with grenades, and was mortally wounded. Corporal Iannuzzi's 'intrepid actions, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty at the cost of his life, exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, the 45th Infantry Division, and the United States Army.'
For his heroic actions that day, President Harry Truman posthumously awarded him the Distinguished Service Cross, the Army's second highest award for valor. During his time in service, he also received the following awards and medals:
Purple Heart
Army Good Conduct Medal
American Campaign Medal
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with Arrowhead Pin, Silver and 3 Bronze Stars
World War II Victory Medal
Croix de Guerre with Palm (France)
Combat Infantryman Badge
Corporal Iannuzzi is buried at the Lorraine American Cemetery in Saint-Avold, Department de la Moselle, Lorraine, France, in Plot K, Row 32, Grave 33. He was just 24 years old at the time of his death, and died a mere 12 days before the German surrender.
Thank you to Corporal Iannuzzi for serving, and thank you to active service members, veterans and their families everywhere for your service and sacrifice.
Thanks go out to Corporal Iannuzzi's grand-nephew Joseph for providing the photos below.
Private George L Cooper Jr - As per news accounts, Private Cooper was the first war fatality from Evesham.
The Unfinished Story of Sargent Wilbur Bakley
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