World War II Honoree
World War II Veteran
William A. Christiano
Branch of Service
U.S. Army
Hometown
Bloomfield, New Jersey
Honored By
Barbara Christiano
Relationship
Daughter
ASSIGNED TO THE 1ST INFANTRY DIVISION, COMPANY A, 16TH INFANTRY, 'THE BIG RED ONE'. HIGHEST GRADE HELD WAS TECHNICAL SERGEANT. 443 COMBAT DAYS, 8 MAJOR CAMPAIGNS AND 3 BEACHHEADS. ALGERIA-FRENCH MOROCCO, ARDENNES (BATTLE OF THE BULGE), CENTRAL EUROPE, NORMANDY, NORTHERN FRANCE, RHINELAND, SICILY AND TUNISIA. BRONZE STAR WITH OAK LEAF CLUSTER, PURPLE HEART WITH OAK LEAF CLUSTER, ARMY GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN SERVICE MEDAL WITH BRONZE ARROWHEAD AND VICTORY MEDAL WWII. ALSO THE NEW JERSEY DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDAL WITH OAK LEAF CLUSTER, ARMY PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION AWARD WITH TWO OAK LEAF CLUSTERS AND COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE. WOUNDED IN ACTION AT GELA, SICILY (JULY 11, 1943) AND NORMANDY D-DAY (JUNE 6, 1944). THE 16TH INFANTRY DIVISION HELPED TO DEFEAT THE ELITE TROOPS OF ROMMEL'S AFRICA CORPS IN TUNISIA. DEFEATED THE 10TH AND 15TH PANZER DIVISION AT THE BATTLE OF EL GUETTAR. THEY MADE THE 2ND BEACHHEAD AT GELA, SICILY; AGAIN THEY HAD TO FIGHT TANKS TO SURVIVE. THIS IS WHERE HE EARNED HIS FIRST PURPLE HEART. HE WAS SENT TO AFRICA TO HAVE SHRAPNEL REMOVED FROM HIS LEG. THEN BACK TO SICILY, WHERE THEY EMBARKED FOR ENGLAND. THE 16TH INFANTRY HAD BEEN ONE OF THE UNITS CHOSEN TO SPEARHEAD THE INVASION OF NORMANDY (OMAHA BEACH), FRANCE. AS A DEMOLITION SERGEANT, HE WAS ABLE TO BLOW TWO HOLES IN THE BARBWIRE, CLEAR A PATH THROUGH THE MINE FIELD BEFORE HE WAS WOUNDED A SECOND TIME. RETURNING FROM THE HOSPITAL, HE WAS IN TIME TO PARTICIPATE IN THE BREAKOUT AT ST. LO. RODE THE TOP OF TANKS IN THE MAD DASH ACROSS NORTHERN FRANCE. HIS UNIT WAS THE FIRST TO CAPTURE GERMAN SOLDIERS IN GERMANY AND BREACH THE SIEGFRIED LINE. WHAT FOLLOWED WAS A SERIES OF BATTLES TOO NUMEROUS TO MENTION. AT WAR'S END, THEY FOUND THEMSELVES IN CZECHOSLOVAKIA. HIS REGIMENT RECEIVED 6,896 PURPLE HEARTS DURING 443 COMBAT DAYS.