World War II Honoree

Dominick P. Cioffi

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Albany, New York

Honored By

Donna Bond, Dominick and Robert Bates

Relationship

Niece & Nephews

ENLISTED IN THE U.S. ARMY AT THE OLD POST OFFICE BUILDING IN ALBANY, NEW YORK IN MARCH, 1942 AT AGE 19. BASIC INFANTRY TRAINING AT CAMP UPTON, LONG ISLAND. AFTER ADVANCED INFANTRY TRAINING, HE WAS ASSIGNED TO THE 7TH INFANTRY REGIMENT 'COTTONBALERS', 3RD INFANTRY DIVISION. HE WAS DEPLOYED TO THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (JULY 1943) WHERE HE SERVED IN THE NORTH AFRICA CAMPAIGN. HE WAS REPORTED MISSING 20 DAYS AFTER HIS 21ST BIRTHDAY WHILE FIGHTING A NUMERICALLY SUPERIOR ENTRENCHED GERMAN ARMY. LISTED AS KILLED IN ACTION ON MAY 23, 1944 AT ANZIO BEACHHEAD. HE WAS BURIED IN ITALY, BUT REPATRIATED TO THE U.S. AND REINTERRED AT OUR LADY OF ANGELS CEMETERY IN ALBANY, NEW YORK. FOR HIS HONORABLE AND VALUABLE SERVICE, ON THREE CONTINENTS AND TWO THEATERS OF OPERATION, HE WAS AWARDED THE COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, BRONZE STAR MEDAL, PURPLE HEART (FOR THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE AT ANZIO), GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL AND AMERICAN THEATER MEDAL. HE WAS ALSO AWARDED THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER MEDAL WTIH 4 BRONZE SERVICE STARS (SICILY, NAPLES-FOGGIA, ANZIO AND ROME-ARNO) AND BRONZE ARROWHEAD (INDICATING AN OPPOSED LANDING), WWII VICTORY MEDAL, NEW YORK STATE CONSPICUOUS SERVICE CROSS, NEW YORK STATE MEDAL FOR MERIT, TWO OVERSEAS SERVICE BARS AND SHARPSHOOTER BADGE WITH RIFLE TAB.