World War II Honoree

John F. Costello

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Maryland

Honored By

Harvey S. Sutherland

Relationship

Airborne - 509th PIB

SERVED WITH THE ELITE 509TH PARACHUTE INFANTRY BATTALION IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS. ON A SUICIDE MISSION BECAME A PRISONER OF WAR. ON SEPTEMBER 19, 1943 PARACHUTED ONTO THE ITALIAN MOUNTAINS NEAR AVELLINO, ITALY IN SUPPORT OF THE SALERNO BEACHHEAD TO DISRUPT THE ADVANCING GERMAN REINFORCEMENTS, CAUSE HAVOC, HARASSMENT AND SLOW THEIR ATTACKS ONTO THE BEACHHEAD. THE 82ND AIRBORNE DIVISION PARACHUTED ONTO THE BEACHHEAD.