The following was published in the Chisholm Tribune Press.
"TEC5 ERNEST DECOBELLIS: Ernest DeCobellis, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ben DeCobellis, 13 2nd street southwest, lost his life while with the 19th Combat engineers while putting pontoons under a bridge at the Garigliano River, Italy, April 29, 1944, when struck by fragments of artillery shells. He entered the service Jan. 15, 1942, and had been awarded the Bronze Star, and the Purple Heart."
The newspaper article inaccurately states Ernest was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, when in fact he posthumously earned the Silver Star Medal and the Purple Heart.
Fred and Ernest were brothers. Within the same week, their parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ben DeCobellis of Chisholm, were informed of both their sons deaths.
Ernest's Silver Star commendation, written personally by Maj. General Willis Crittenburger, commander of the VI Army Corps, reads: "For gallantry in action on night of 28-29 April 1944 in the vicinity of Minturno, Italy. These men were responsible for maintaining the vital pontoon bridge over which supplies to our forward elements were being transported. Between 0100 and 530 hours the bridge was hit directly and seriously damaged by enemy artillery fire on three separate occasions. During this time one man was killed and two others were wounded. It was required that all men work constantly while completely exposed to the accurate and continuous enemy fire. During this time the destroyed pontoons were replaced, damaged pontoons were repaired and pumps were kept running in order to keep punctured pontoons afloat. The fearlessness and skill with which these men accomplished this task resulted in keeping this vital bridge in continuous operation and the complete saving of valuable equipment. Their heroic devotion to duty reflects great credit on themselves and the traditions of the Armed Forces of the United States."
After dodging incoming heavy artillery for hours, finally a direct hit from a 88mm was scored on the bridge, landing between Decobellis and Corporal Nelson, a fellow soldier from Chisholm, Minnesota. They were within an arms length from each other when the shell burst. The swirling curtain of shrapnel lifted Ernest from the bridge, and threw his mortally wounded body into the icy river. Ernest was pulled from the river by T5 Clayton Nelson, and succumbed to his wounds shortly after.
"TEC5 ERNEST DECOBELLIS: Ernest DeCobellis, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ben DeCobellis, 13 2nd street southwest, lost his life while with the 19th Combat engineers while putting pontoons under a bridge at the Garigliano River, Italy, April 29, 1944, when struck by fragments of artillery shells. He entered the service Jan. 15, 1942, and had been awarded the Bronze Star, and the Purple Heart."
The newspaper article inaccurately states Ernest was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, when in fact he posthumously earned the Silver Star Medal and the Purple Heart.
Fred and Ernest were brothers. Within the same week, their parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ben DeCobellis of Chisholm, were informed of both their sons deaths.
Ernest's Silver Star commendation, written personally by Maj. General Willis Crittenburger, commander of the VI Army Corps, reads: "For gallantry in action on night of 28-29 April 1944 in the vicinity of Minturno, Italy. These men were responsible for maintaining the vital pontoon bridge over which supplies to our forward elements were being transported. Between 0100 and 530 hours the bridge was hit directly and seriously damaged by enemy artillery fire on three separate occasions. During this time one man was killed and two others were wounded. It was required that all men work constantly while completely exposed to the accurate and continuous enemy fire. During this time the destroyed pontoons were replaced, damaged pontoons were repaired and pumps were kept running in order to keep punctured pontoons afloat. The fearlessness and skill with which these men accomplished this task resulted in keeping this vital bridge in continuous operation and the complete saving of valuable equipment. Their heroic devotion to duty reflects great credit on themselves and the traditions of the Armed Forces of the United States."
After dodging incoming heavy artillery for hours, finally a direct hit from a 88mm was scored on the bridge, landing between Decobellis and Corporal Nelson, a fellow soldier from Chisholm, Minnesota. They were within an arms length from each other when the shell burst. The swirling curtain of shrapnel lifted Ernest from the bridge, and threw his mortally wounded body into the icy river. Ernest was pulled from the river by T5 Clayton Nelson, and succumbed to his wounds shortly after.
The following was published in the Chisholm Tribune Press.
"TEC5 ERNEST DECOBELLIS: Ernest DeCobellis, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ben DeCobellis, 13 2nd street southwest, lost his life while with the 19th Combat engineers while putting pontoons under a bridge at the Garigliano River, Italy, April 29, 1944, when struck by fragments of artillery shells. He entered the service Jan. 15, 1942, and had been awarded the Bronze Star, and the Purple Heart."
The newspaper article inaccurately states Ernest was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, when in fact he posthumously earned the Silver Star Medal and the Purple Heart.
Fred and Ernest were brothers. Within the same week, their parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ben DeCobellis of Chisholm, were informed of both their sons deaths.
Ernest's Silver Star commendation, written personally by Maj. General Willis Crittenburger, commander of the VI Army Corps, reads: "For gallantry in action on night of 28-29 April 1944 in the vicinity of Minturno, Italy. These men were responsible for maintaining the vital pontoon bridge over which supplies to our forward elements were being transported. Between 0100 and 530 hours the bridge was hit directly and seriously damaged by enemy artillery fire on three separate occasions. During this time one man was killed and two others were wounded. It was required that all men work constantly while completely exposed to the accurate and continuous enemy fire. During this time the destroyed pontoons were replaced, damaged pontoons were repaired and pumps were kept running in order to keep punctured pontoons afloat. The fearlessness and skill with which these men accomplished this task resulted in keeping this vital bridge in continuous operation and the complete saving of valuable equipment. Their heroic devotion to duty reflects great credit on themselves and the traditions of the Armed Forces of the United States."
After dodging incoming heavy artillery for hours, finally a direct hit from a 88mm was scored on the bridge, landing between Decobellis and Corporal Nelson, a fellow soldier from Chisholm, Minnesota. They were within an arms length from each other when the shell burst. The swirling curtain of shrapnel lifted Ernest from the bridge, and threw his mortally wounded body into the icy river. Ernest was pulled from the river by T5 Clayton Nelson, and succumbed to his wounds shortly after.
"TEC5 ERNEST DECOBELLIS: Ernest DeCobellis, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ben DeCobellis, 13 2nd street southwest, lost his life while with the 19th Combat engineers while putting pontoons under a bridge at the Garigliano River, Italy, April 29, 1944, when struck by fragments of artillery shells. He entered the service Jan. 15, 1942, and had been awarded the Bronze Star, and the Purple Heart."
The newspaper article inaccurately states Ernest was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, when in fact he posthumously earned the Silver Star Medal and the Purple Heart.
Fred and Ernest were brothers. Within the same week, their parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ben DeCobellis of Chisholm, were informed of both their sons deaths.
Ernest's Silver Star commendation, written personally by Maj. General Willis Crittenburger, commander of the VI Army Corps, reads: "For gallantry in action on night of 28-29 April 1944 in the vicinity of Minturno, Italy. These men were responsible for maintaining the vital pontoon bridge over which supplies to our forward elements were being transported. Between 0100 and 530 hours the bridge was hit directly and seriously damaged by enemy artillery fire on three separate occasions. During this time one man was killed and two others were wounded. It was required that all men work constantly while completely exposed to the accurate and continuous enemy fire. During this time the destroyed pontoons were replaced, damaged pontoons were repaired and pumps were kept running in order to keep punctured pontoons afloat. The fearlessness and skill with which these men accomplished this task resulted in keeping this vital bridge in continuous operation and the complete saving of valuable equipment. Their heroic devotion to duty reflects great credit on themselves and the traditions of the Armed Forces of the United States."
After dodging incoming heavy artillery for hours, finally a direct hit from a 88mm was scored on the bridge, landing between Decobellis and Corporal Nelson, a fellow soldier from Chisholm, Minnesota. They were within an arms length from each other when the shell burst. The swirling curtain of shrapnel lifted Ernest from the bridge, and threw his mortally wounded body into the icy river. Ernest was pulled from the river by T5 Clayton Nelson, and succumbed to his wounds shortly after.
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