World War II Honoree

Lawrence J. Minutillo

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Chicago, Illinois

Honored By

A Grateful American

CORPORAL IN THE 36TH INFANTRY DIVISION IN ITALY, WAS ONE OF THE FIRST AMERICAN TROOPS TO LAND ON THE CONTINENT OF EUROPE ON SEPTEMBER 9, 1943 DURING OPERATION AVALANCHE. ESTABLISHED A BEACHHEAD AT SALERNO AND FOUGHT WITH THE 36TH THROUGHOUT THE ITALIAN CAMPAIGN CAPTURING SAN PIETRO, FIGHTING ALONG THE RAPIDO RIVER, ASSISTING WITH THE ATTACK AT MONTE CASSINO AND THE BREAKOUT AT ANZIO, AND SPEARHEADING 5TH ARMY'S DRIVE ON ROME RESULTING IN THE LIBERATION OF THAT CITY IN JUNE, 1944. PARTICIPATED IN OPERATION ANVIL, THE ALLIED LANDINGS ON THE FRENCH RIVIERA ON AUGUST 15, 1944. FOUGHT THROUGH THE VOSGES FOOTHILLS INTO THE ALSATIAN PLAINS ADVANCING INTO THE COLMAR REGION IN FRANCE. KILLED IN ACTION DECEMBER 11, 1944 WITH SEVEN MEMBERS OF HIS GUN CREW WHEN A GERMAN SHELL BURST INTO THEIR SLIT TRENCH.