World War II Honoree

Fred James Baldino

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Ashland, Pennsylvania

JOINED THE ARMY IN MAY 1941 AND SERVED 16 MONTHS IN THE ARMY AIR CORPS. AFTER PEARL HARBOR, VOLUNTEERED FOR THE PARATROOPS. AFTER JUMP SCHOOL, ASSIGNED TO THE 82ND AIRBORNE DIVISION. WENT OVERSEAS IN 1943. MADE COMBAT JUMP IN SICILY. WOUNDED, BUT REJOINED MY OUTFIT SHORTLY AFTER. MADE A COMBAT JUMP INTO SALERNO, ITALY. AMONG THE FIRST TROOPS IN NAPLES, ITALY. FOUGHT OUR WAY UP TO CASSINO. ITALY. WE WERE PULLED BACK AND MADE THE ANZIO BEACHHEAD LANDING BY BOAT. SPENT OVER 3 MONTHS ON THE ANZIO BEACHHEAD. WENT TO ENGLAND; MISSED THE D-DAY JUMP. MADE ANOTHER COMBAT JUMP INTO HOLLAND ON SEPTEMBER 17TH. ON OCTOBER 2ND, WOUNDED THE 2ND TIME AND SENT BACK TO ENGLAND AND EVENTUALLY BACK TO HOSPITALS IN THE U.S. DISCHARGED IN JULY 1945.