World War II Honoree

Ettore V. Zappacosta

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: CAPTAIN. SERVED AS COMMANDER OF BRAVO COMPANY, 1ST BATTALION, 116TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, 29TH INFANTRY ‘BLUE AND GRAY’ DIVISION ATTACHED TO THE U.S. 1ST ARMY. HE WAS A MEMBER OF THE VAST ARMADA THAT PARTICIPATED IN THE INVASION OF GERMANY’S FORTRESS EUROPE, D-DAY OPERATION OVERLORD. HIS REGIMENT WAS GIVEN THE OBJECTIVE TO SPEARHEAD THE D-DAY INITIAL ASSAULT AGAINST OMAHA BEACH ON THE FRENCH COAST, GOING ASHORE WITH THE 1ST WAVE, TUESDAY, JUNE 6, 1944 AT 06:30 HOURS. KILLED IN ACTION ON THE DAY OF THE INVASION BY DEVASTATING GERMAN ARTILLERY SHELLING AND MACHINE GUN FIRE WHILE EXITING HIS LANDING CRAFT. AFTER THE CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES, HIS REMAINS WERE RETURNED TO PENNSYLVANIA FOR BURIAL, WITH INTERMENT IN THE HOLY CROSS CEMETERY, YEADON, PENNSYLVANIA. DECORATIONS AND MEDALS: AWARDED THE SILVER STAR. THE SILVER STAR WAS AWARDED THE CAPTAIN FOR DISTINGUISHED GALLANTRY IN ACTION AND VALOR IN THE FACE OF THE ENEMY. HIS REGIMENT WAS AWARDED A PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION FOR EXCEPTIONAL VALOR AND HEROISM IN ACTION AGAINST THE GERMAN ARMED FORCES ON OMAHA BEACH.