World War II Honoree

Joseph Passantino

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Brooklyn, New York

Honored By

Patricia Passantino Vermeulen

Relationship

Daughter

SERVED HONORABLY IN THE ARMY AIR CORPS DURING WWII. SERVED IN NORTH AFRICA AND THEN IN THE CHINA-BURMA-INDIA CAMPAIGN AS A PLATOON SERGEANT. HE LED HIS MEN IN MANY BATTLES THROUGHOUT BURMA UNTIL HE SUFFERED SERIOUS INJURIES FROM A LAND MINE AND WAS RETURNED STATESIDE TO RECUPERATE IN A VETERANS HOSPITAL IN NEW YORK. AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART FOR WOUNDS HE SUFFERED IN COMBAT, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AND ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN RIBBON WITH ONE STAR ENCRUSTED.