World War II Honoree

Paul F. Costa

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Bronx, New York

Honored By

Anthony Sicuranza, Jr.

Relationship

Grandson

ENLISTED IN THE ARMY IN 1942 AT AGE EIGHTEEN. HIS FIRST ASSIGNMENT WAS STATESIDE WITH THE 8TH AIR FORCE. AFTER ABOUT EIGHT MONTHS OF STATESIDE SERVICE HE WAS TRANSFERRED FROM THE ARMY AIR CORPS TO THE ARMY. HIS FIRST STATION OVERSEAS WAS MAINLAND ITALY WHERE HE STAYED UNTIL THE INVASION OF EUROPE. THAT’S WHEN HE LANDED AT LE HAVRE, FRANCE WITH THE 99TH INFANTRY DIVISION IN 1944. AFTER MONTHS OF COMBAT AT HE FOUND HIMSELF ENGAGED IN THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE WITH THE 99TH. HE WAS THEN TRANSFERRED TO THE 257TH ENGINEERS COMBAT BATTALION WHERE HE SERVED OUT THE REST OF THE WAR. OVERALL HE SAW COMBAT ALL OVER EUROPE AND WAS WOUNDED SOMEWHERE IN GERMANY IN 1945. DURING HIS STAY IN THE HOSPITAL IN GERMANY IT WAS ATTACKED BY GERMAN BOMBERS AND WAS DESTROYED. HE LUCKILY SURVIVED BUT ALL THE RECORDS WERE LOST, THUS NO PURPLE HEART WAS AWARDED.