World War II Honoree

Theodore Cosenza

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Flushing, New York

Honored By

Valiere Miradoli & Aimee May

Relationship

Daughter & Granddaughter

TECHNICAL SERGEANT. SERVED FROM APRIL 21, 1941 TO OCTOBER 28, 1945, INITIALLY WITH A HORSE CAVALRY UNIT AND LATER WITH 9TH INFANTRY 'THE OLD RELIABLES' DIVISION, 47TH INFANTRY 'RAIDERS' REGIMENT, COMPANY I IN FRANCE, BELGIUM AND GERMANY. HIT UTAH BEACH ON JUNE 10, 1944 (D-DAY+4). FROM JULY 1944 THROUGH APRIL 1945 DROVE ON CHERBOURG, TOOK PART IN THE ST. LO BREAKTHROUGH, HELPED CLOSE THE FALAISE GAP, CROSSED THE MARNE, SWEPT THROUGH SAARLAUTERN, DROVE ACROSS THE RUHR AND ON TO THE RHINE CROSSING AT REMAGEN. ATTACKED THE HARZ MOUNTAINS, RELIEVED 3RD ARMORED DIVISION NEAR DESSAU, GERMANY AND HELD THAT LINE UNTIL V-E DAY. MET GENERAL GEORGE PATTON WHILE IN FOXHOLE IN THE RUHR POCKET. AWARDED COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, BRONZE STAR MEDAL, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 4 STARS (FOR NORMANDY, NORTHERN FRANCE, ARDENNES, AND RHINELAND BATTLE CAMPAIGNS), WWII VICTORY MEDAL AND ARMY OF OCCUPATION MEDAL WITH GERMANY CLASP. ALSO AWARDED MULTIPLE PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATIONS, FRENCH CROIX DE GUERRE WITH PALM AT CHERBOURG AND BELGIAN FOURRAGERE FOR BEING CITED TWICE IN THE ORDER OF THE DAY OF THE BELGIAN ARMY FOR ACTIONS AT THE MEUSE RIVER AND IN THE ARDENNES. SEVEN OVERSEAS SERVICE BARS, HASH MARK AND 'RUPTURED DUCK' LAPEL BUTTON FOR HONORABLE SERVICE.