World War II Honoree

Michael Balducci

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Columbia County, Pennsylvania

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: PRIVATE. HE WAS INDUCTED INTO THE U.S. ARMY SEPTEMBER 2, 1943 WILKES-BARRE, PENNSYLVANIA. SERVED IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS WITH THE U.S. ARMY, H&H DEMOLITIONS PLATOON, 501ST PARACHUTE INFANTRY REGIMENT, 101ST AIRBORNE ‘SCREAMING EAGLES’ DIVISION. KILLED IN ACTION JANUARY 5, 1945 IN THE VICINITY OF BASTOGNE, BELGIUM DURING THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE CAMPAIGN. A TRUCK LOADED WITH LANDMINES, WHICH WAS PARKED NEXT TO A HUGE MINE DUMP STACKED NEXT TO A SEMINARY WALL EXPLODED. THE LETHAL EXPLOSION ALSO KILLED 11 OTHER MEMBERS OF THE DEMOLITIONS PLATOON AND ANOTHER TROOPER, WHO WAS A TRUCK DRIVER ASSIGNED TO THE REGIMENT SERVICE COMPANY. IT WAS NEVER DETERMINED IF A DIRECT HIT FROM AN ENEMY MORTAR OR ARTILLERY SHELL CAUSED THE FATAL EXPLOSION OR THE DETERIORATION OF THE MINES. A MARKER HAS BEEN ERECTED ON THE NORTH SEMINARY WALL WITH A PLAQUE, BEARING AND HONORING THE NAMES OF THE PARATROOPERS. HIS BODY WAS RETURNED TO SAINT LOUIS, MISSOURI FOR BURIAL, WITH INTERMENT IN THE JEFFERSON BARRACKS NATIONAL CEMETERY.