World War II Honoree

Francis A. Cocca

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Green Island, New York

Honored By

Francis & Theresa Cocca

Relationship

Family

PRIVATE FIRST CLASS. SERVED JANUARY 1, 1943 TO NOVEMBER 20, 1945. BASIC TRAINING AT CAMP HOOD, TEXAS. AFTER 5 MONTHS OF TRAINING, WENT OVERSEAS ON THE TROOP TRANSPORT SHIP USS WEST POINT (AP-23). SAILED TO CASABLANCA, MOROCCO AS A REPLACEMENT TROOP. FROM THERE, WENT ON TO ORAN, ALGERIA BY TROOP TRAIN. JOINED THE 977TH FIELD ARTILLERY BATTALION. TRAVELED BY SHIP TO EUROPE, LANDING IN NAPLES, ITALY. FIRST COMBAT CAME AT CAMPOBASSO JUST BELOW THE GUSTAV LINE, SOUTH OF CASSINO. HE WINTERED IN THIS AREA AND IN JANUARY 1944, WAS TRANSFERRED TO ANZIO WHERE HE REMAINED ENGAGED UNTIL MAY 28, 1944. FOLLOWING THAT ACTION AND THE MARCH THROUGH ROME, HE PROGRESSED TO LAKE BRACCIANO. FROM THERE, HE WAS SENT BACK TO SALERNO TO PREPARE FOR THE INVASION OF SOUTHERN FRANCE. EARNED BRONZE ARROWHEAD FOR HIS CAMPAIGN RIBBON ON AUGUST 15, 1944 WHEN HE HIT THE BEACH NEAR ST. TROPEZ ON THE FRENCH RIVIERA. WHILE IN FRANCE, HE FOUGHT IN SUPPORT OF THE FOLLOWING INFANTRY DIVISIONS; 3RD, 36TH AND 45TH AMONG OTHERS. PROCEEDED NORTH THROUGH FRANCE ALL THE WAY UP TO THE GERMAN BORDER. AFTER THE WAR ENDED IN EUROPE ON MAY 8, 1945, HE TOOK PART IN THE OCCUPATION OF GERMANY. FOR SERVICE IN EUROPE, IN 2 ARMIES (5TH AND 7TH), HE WAS AWARDED THE BELGIAN FOURRAGERE. ALSO RECEIVED THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER MEDAL WITH BRONZE ARROWHEAD AND 6 BRONZE SERVICE STARS FOR NAPLES-FOGGIA, ANZIO, ROME-ARNO, SOUTHERN FRANCE, RHINELAND AND CENTRAL EUROPE; WWII VICTORY MEDAL, ARMY OF OCCUPATION MEDAL WITH GERMANY CLASP, NEW YORK STATE MEDAL FOR MERIT, NEW YORK STATE CONSPICUOUS SERVICE STAR AND HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL PIN. BARELY 23 YEARS OLD, HE RETURNED HOME A DECORATED SOLDIER.