World War II Honoree

Rudolph Passeri

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

New Cumberland, Pennsylvania

Honored By

Carol Szutowicz

Relationship

Niece

PRIVATE FIRST CLASS. WOUNDED AND RECEIVED TWO PURPLE HEARTS, A SILVER STAR AND A BRONZE STAR FOR HEROICS IN COMBAT EPISODES IN THE MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS. IN OCTOBER 1944, HE HURLED GRENADES, WHILE SHOOTING, TO PUSH BACK THE ENEMY NEAR CASSETA, ITALY. THREE NIGHTS LATER, HE SCALED THE PLATOON COMMAND POST THERE AFTER A CHEMICAL BARRAGE SET IT AFIRE. HE USED HIS JACKET TO SMOTHER THE FLAMES AND PREVENT FURTHER ILLUMINATION THAT WOULD MAKE THE AREA AN EASY TARGET. HIS ACTIONS DARKENED THE AREA LONG ENOUGH TO ALLOW HIS UNIT TO MOVE OUT. HE SUFFERED BURNS BUT REFUSED EVACUATION, TAKING FIRST-AID TO STAY ON DUTY. ON JANUARY 7, 1945, UNDER HEAVY FIRE, HE HELPED RESCUE TWO MEN SERIOUSLY WOUNDED IN A MINEFIELD BLAST. ON APRIL 19, 1945, HE VOLUNTEERED TO LEAD 900 G.I.'S ON A TREACHEROUS NIGHT MARCH TO AN ENEMY-HELD AREA NEAR MARZABATTO, ITALY. HE WAS SPOTTED WITHIN YARDS OF THE COMPOUND AND SPRAYED WITH MACHINE GUN FIRE. HIT IN THE LEGS AND ANKLES AND UNABLE TO MOVE, HE STILL MANAGED TO RETURN FIRE AND CALL THE LOCATION OF THE ENEMY TO THE PLATOON. HE WAS DISCHARGED AFTER A LENGTHY HOSPITAL RECUPERATION. SERVED IN THE 88TH INFANTRY DIVISION, 351ST REGIMENT, 2ND BATTALION, 1ST PLATOON.