World War II Honoree

Anthony John Miniscalco

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Chicago, Illinois

Honored By

John Anthony Miniscalco & Diane Szwarc

Relationship

Son & Daughter

40TH DIVISION, 1ST BATTALION, COMPANY B, U.S. ARMY, 1940-1945, PRIVATE. SIGNED-UP BEFORE THE WAR TO SERVE HIS 1 YEAR. HE WAS STATIONED AT PEARL HARBOR BUT JUST BEFORE THE JAPANESE ATTACKED ON DECEMBER 7, 1941, HIS COMPANY WAS SENT TO GUADALCANAL WITH THE 3RD MARINE DIVISION. HE WAS A SERGEANT, COOK FOR THE ARMY BUT HE JOINED TO FIGHT AND ASKED TO BE TRANSFERRED INTO A COMBAT BATTALION. HE GAVE UP BEING A COOK, BEHIND THE LINES AND FOUGHT AS A FOOT SOLDIER. RECEIVED 5 BATTLE STARS, PURPLE HEART AND GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL. IWO JIMA, GREAT BRITAIN, PHILIPPINES, GUADALCANAL, BOUGAINVILLE. HE WAS IN THE PHILIPPINES IN 1944 WHEN HE WAS WOUNDED. HE WAS IN THE MORTAR SQUAD, CARRIED 4 ROCKETS WHEN AN INCOMING MORTAR KILLED HIS 2 FRIENDS, (DIRECT HIT) AND MISSED THE ROCKETS HE WAS CARRYING BY 2 INCHES. OUR DAD WAS 1 OF 6 BROTHERS THAT FOUGHT IN WWII AND ALL 6 BROTHERS CAME OUT ALIVE. TWO IN THE NAVY, 1 IN THE MARINES AND 3 IN THE ARMY.