World War II Honoree

William A. Christiano

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Bloomfield, New Jersey

Honored By

Mrs. Edith B. Christiano

Relationship

Wife

ASSIGNED TO THE 1ST INFANTRY DIVISION, COMPANY A, 16TH INFANTRY. HIGHEST GRADE HELD, TECHNICAL SERGEANT. 443 COMBAT DAYS, 8 MAJOR CAMPAIGNS AND 3 BEACH HEADS. 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, VICTORY MEDAL WWII, NEW JERSEY DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDAL WITH OAK LEAF CLUSTER, ARMY PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION AWARD WITH TWO OAK LEAF CLUSTERS AND THE COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE. WOUNDED IN ACTION AT GELA, SICILY ON JULY 11, 1943 AND NORMANDY D-DAY ON JUNE 6, 1944. THE DIVISION HELPED TO DEFEAT THE ELITE TROOPS OF ROMMEL'S AFRICA CORPS IN TUNISIA. THEY DEFEATED THE 10TH AND 15TH PANZER DIVISION AT THE BATTLE OF EL GUETTAR AND MADE THE 2ND BEACH HEAD AT GELA, SICILY. AGAIN THEY HAD TO FIGHT TANKS TO SURVIVE. WOUNDED FOR THE FIRST TIME AND 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 AND CLEAR A PATH THROUGH THE MINE FIELD BEFORE HE WAS WOUNDED FOR THE SECOND TIME. RETURNED FROM THE HOSPITAL IN TIME TO PARTICIPATE IN THE BREAKOUT AT ST. LO. HE 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. AT WARS END, THEY FOUND THEMSELVES IN CZECHOSLOVAKIA. HIS REGIMENT RECEIVED 6,896 PURPLE HEARTS DURING 443 COMBAT DAYS.