Happy Days.....Gone

Antonio A. Carullo was born on October 26, 1924, in Orsogna, Italy, to Antonio and Concetta Pace Carullo. He had four siblings: Elmira, Cleto, Aurelio, and Florence. Antonio’s mother and father were from Orsogna. His father Antonio immigrated to the United States in 1904. While visiting Italy in 1922, he married Concetta Pace. Antonio and his siblings were American citizens because their father was a naturalized American citizen. On December 3, 1938, Antonio and his mother and siblings sailed from Naples on the SS Rex, arriving in New York on December 11. The family settled in Astoria, New York. Antonio and his father both changed their names to Anthony. Anthony (Junior) worked with a carpenter.

On December 8, 1941, following the attack on Pearl Harbor, the US entered World War II. On May 5, 1943, Anthony was inducted into the US Army. He served in G Company, 2nd Infantry Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regiment, 5th Infantry Division. On November 9, 1943, Anthony, a private first class, arrived in Europe. His division was stationed in Ireland for training. On July 9, 1944, the 2nd Infantry Regiment landed in Normandy. On August 27, Anthony was wounded on his left arm and leg in France, for which he received a Purple Heart. Anthony’s regiment fought in Luxembourg during the Battle of the Bulge, then crossed the Saar River into Germany in January 1945. The 2nd fought through Germany into Czechoslovakia. Anthony rose to the rank of sergeant. The war ended when Germany surrendered on May 7, 1945. Anthony returned to the US on July 18, 1945, and was discharged on October 7.

Anthony lived in Astoria. He married Filomena and they had two daughters. In December 1948, Anthony was notified that he had been awarded a Bronze Star Medal for his exemplary conduct during combat on August 8, 1944. Anthony, 87, passed away on October 19, 2012, in New York.