Joseph C Lianza was the son of Calegero "Charles" Lianza (Immigrant & WWI Veteran) and Isabel Huntress.
Military:
Enlistment: 9 Sep 1943, Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas.
5th U.S. Army, 350th Infantry, 88th Infantry Division, Service # 38556362, Private First Class.
Blue Devil or Clover Leaf Division
Killed in action in Italy in World War II. Received Purple Heart posthumously on Dec. 25, 1944.
After boot camp, Joseph was very quickly swept up in the final Allied efforts to close the war in Europe. Activated on 4 July 1942, this unit was sent to Italy in Feb. 1944, The 88th Infantry Division arrived at Casablanca, French Morocco, 15 December 1943, and moved to Magenta, Algeria, on the 28th for intensive training.
The 88th arrived at Naples, Italy, 6 February 1944, and concentrated in the Piedmont d'Alife area for combat training. An advance element went into the line before Cassino, 27 February, and the entire unit relieved British elements along the Garigliano River in the Minturno area, 5 March. A period of defensive patrols and training followed. On 11 May, the 88th drove north to take Spigno, Mount Civita, Itri, Fondi, and Roccagorga, reached Anzio, 29 May, and pursued the enemy into Rome, 4 June, after a stiff engagement on the outskirts of the city. An element of the 88th is credited with being first to enter the Eternal City. After continuing across the Tiber to Bassanelio the 88th retired for rest and training, 11 June. The Division went into defensive positions near Pomerance, 5 July, and launched an attack toward Volterra on the 8th, taking the town the next day. Laiatico fell on the 11th, Villamagna on the 13th, and the Arno River was crossed on the 20th although the enemy resisted bitterly. It was necessary for the Allies to go through all of Italy, from the southern regions, going north, to defeat the German and Italian Axis armies and clear the country of continual danger to its citizens. The 88th found the mountain terrain of the Apennine Mountains getting more difficult. The autumn rains were making it worse. The German and Italian armies were fiercely defending their positions, but gradually losing. What must have been going through young Joseph's head during the invasion? He was part of the greatest military force ever assembled, in the process of liberating his father's homeland from tyranny and oppression.
After a period of rest and training, the Division opened its assault on the Gothic Line, 21 September 1944, and advanced rapidly along the Firenzuola Imola Road, taking Mount Battaglia on the 28th. The enemy counterattacked savagely and heavy fighting continued on the line toward the Po Valley. Although they were through the Gothic Line, the 5th Army—just like the 8th Army before them—found the terrain beyond, and its defenders, even more difficult.
Between 25 September and 3 October, U.S. 88th Division had fought its way to a standstill on the route to Imola, suffering 2,105 American men killed and wounded — roughly the same as the whole of the rest of II Corps during the actual breaching of the Gothic Line.
Joseph was among those who lost their lives here. He died on September 23, 1944. Young Joseph received the Purple Heart Medal, among others, posthumously, on December 25, 1944. He was buried at the Florence American Cemetery, outside Florence, Italy, along with 4,397 other American soldiers
There is no greater loss than that of your own child. Calogero and Isabel were heartbroken over the news of Joseph's death. By the time they were notified, all of Italy was in the hands of the Allies. Joseph's parents knew he was part of the successful campaign of the Blue Devils' march across Northern Italy all the way to Austria. Calogero could not have been more proud and sad at the same time. Italy is free, but it was accomplished at the cost of losing his son.
May God forever watch over Joseph and his fellow heroes.
Military:
Enlistment: 9 Sep 1943, Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas.
5th U.S. Army, 350th Infantry, 88th Infantry Division, Service # 38556362, Private First Class.
Blue Devil or Clover Leaf Division
Killed in action in Italy in World War II. Received Purple Heart posthumously on Dec. 25, 1944.
After boot camp, Joseph was very quickly swept up in the final Allied efforts to close the war in Europe. Activated on 4 July 1942, this unit was sent to Italy in Feb. 1944, The 88th Infantry Division arrived at Casablanca, French Morocco, 15 December 1943, and moved to Magenta, Algeria, on the 28th for intensive training.
The 88th arrived at Naples, Italy, 6 February 1944, and concentrated in the Piedmont d'Alife area for combat training. An advance element went into the line before Cassino, 27 February, and the entire unit relieved British elements along the Garigliano River in the Minturno area, 5 March. A period of defensive patrols and training followed. On 11 May, the 88th drove north to take Spigno, Mount Civita, Itri, Fondi, and Roccagorga, reached Anzio, 29 May, and pursued the enemy into Rome, 4 June, after a stiff engagement on the outskirts of the city. An element of the 88th is credited with being first to enter the Eternal City. After continuing across the Tiber to Bassanelio the 88th retired for rest and training, 11 June. The Division went into defensive positions near Pomerance, 5 July, and launched an attack toward Volterra on the 8th, taking the town the next day. Laiatico fell on the 11th, Villamagna on the 13th, and the Arno River was crossed on the 20th although the enemy resisted bitterly. It was necessary for the Allies to go through all of Italy, from the southern regions, going north, to defeat the German and Italian Axis armies and clear the country of continual danger to its citizens. The 88th found the mountain terrain of the Apennine Mountains getting more difficult. The autumn rains were making it worse. The German and Italian armies were fiercely defending their positions, but gradually losing. What must have been going through young Joseph's head during the invasion? He was part of the greatest military force ever assembled, in the process of liberating his father's homeland from tyranny and oppression.
After a period of rest and training, the Division opened its assault on the Gothic Line, 21 September 1944, and advanced rapidly along the Firenzuola Imola Road, taking Mount Battaglia on the 28th. The enemy counterattacked savagely and heavy fighting continued on the line toward the Po Valley. Although they were through the Gothic Line, the 5th Army—just like the 8th Army before them—found the terrain beyond, and its defenders, even more difficult.
Between 25 September and 3 October, U.S. 88th Division had fought its way to a standstill on the route to Imola, suffering 2,105 American men killed and wounded — roughly the same as the whole of the rest of II Corps during the actual breaching of the Gothic Line.
Joseph was among those who lost their lives here. He died on September 23, 1944. Young Joseph received the Purple Heart Medal, among others, posthumously, on December 25, 1944. He was buried at the Florence American Cemetery, outside Florence, Italy, along with 4,397 other American soldiers
There is no greater loss than that of your own child. Calogero and Isabel were heartbroken over the news of Joseph's death. By the time they were notified, all of Italy was in the hands of the Allies. Joseph's parents knew he was part of the successful campaign of the Blue Devils' march across Northern Italy all the way to Austria. Calogero could not have been more proud and sad at the same time. Italy is free, but it was accomplished at the cost of losing his son.
May God forever watch over Joseph and his fellow heroes.
Joseph C Lianza was the son of Calegero "Charles" Lianza (Immigrant & WWI Veteran) and Isabel Huntress.
Military:
Enlistment: 9 Sep 1943, Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas.
5th U.S. Army, 350th Infantry, 88th Infantry Division, Service # 38556362, Private First Class.
Blue Devil or Clover Leaf Division
Killed in action in Italy in World War II. Received Purple Heart posthumously on Dec. 25, 1944.
After boot camp, Joseph was very quickly swept up in the final Allied efforts to close the war in Europe. Activated on 4 July 1942, this unit was sent to Italy in Feb. 1944, The 88th Infantry Division arrived at Casablanca, French Morocco, 15 December 1943, and moved to Magenta, Algeria, on the 28th for intensive training.
The 88th arrived at Naples, Italy, 6 February 1944, and concentrated in the Piedmont d'Alife area for combat training. An advance element went into the line before Cassino, 27 February, and the entire unit relieved British elements along the Garigliano River in the Minturno area, 5 March. A period of defensive patrols and training followed. On 11 May, the 88th drove north to take Spigno, Mount Civita, Itri, Fondi, and Roccagorga, reached Anzio, 29 May, and pursued the enemy into Rome, 4 June, after a stiff engagement on the outskirts of the city. An element of the 88th is credited with being first to enter the Eternal City. After continuing across the Tiber to Bassanelio the 88th retired for rest and training, 11 June. The Division went into defensive positions near Pomerance, 5 July, and launched an attack toward Volterra on the 8th, taking the town the next day. Laiatico fell on the 11th, Villamagna on the 13th, and the Arno River was crossed on the 20th although the enemy resisted bitterly. It was necessary for the Allies to go through all of Italy, from the southern regions, going north, to defeat the German and Italian Axis armies and clear the country of continual danger to its citizens. The 88th found the mountain terrain of the Apennine Mountains getting more difficult. The autumn rains were making it worse. The German and Italian armies were fiercely defending their positions, but gradually losing. What must have been going through young Joseph's head during the invasion? He was part of the greatest military force ever assembled, in the process of liberating his father's homeland from tyranny and oppression.
After a period of rest and training, the Division opened its assault on the Gothic Line, 21 September 1944, and advanced rapidly along the Firenzuola Imola Road, taking Mount Battaglia on the 28th. The enemy counterattacked savagely and heavy fighting continued on the line toward the Po Valley. Although they were through the Gothic Line, the 5th Army—just like the 8th Army before them—found the terrain beyond, and its defenders, even more difficult.
Between 25 September and 3 October, U.S. 88th Division had fought its way to a standstill on the route to Imola, suffering 2,105 American men killed and wounded — roughly the same as the whole of the rest of II Corps during the actual breaching of the Gothic Line.
Joseph was among those who lost their lives here. He died on September 23, 1944. Young Joseph received the Purple Heart Medal, among others, posthumously, on December 25, 1944. He was buried at the Florence American Cemetery, outside Florence, Italy, along with 4,397 other American soldiers
There is no greater loss than that of your own child. Calogero and Isabel were heartbroken over the news of Joseph's death. By the time they were notified, all of Italy was in the hands of the Allies. Joseph's parents knew he was part of the successful campaign of the Blue Devils' march across Northern Italy all the way to Austria. Calogero could not have been more proud and sad at the same time. Italy is free, but it was accomplished at the cost of losing his son.
May God forever watch over Joseph and his fellow heroes.
Military:
Enlistment: 9 Sep 1943, Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas.
5th U.S. Army, 350th Infantry, 88th Infantry Division, Service # 38556362, Private First Class.
Blue Devil or Clover Leaf Division
Killed in action in Italy in World War II. Received Purple Heart posthumously on Dec. 25, 1944.
After boot camp, Joseph was very quickly swept up in the final Allied efforts to close the war in Europe. Activated on 4 July 1942, this unit was sent to Italy in Feb. 1944, The 88th Infantry Division arrived at Casablanca, French Morocco, 15 December 1943, and moved to Magenta, Algeria, on the 28th for intensive training.
The 88th arrived at Naples, Italy, 6 February 1944, and concentrated in the Piedmont d'Alife area for combat training. An advance element went into the line before Cassino, 27 February, and the entire unit relieved British elements along the Garigliano River in the Minturno area, 5 March. A period of defensive patrols and training followed. On 11 May, the 88th drove north to take Spigno, Mount Civita, Itri, Fondi, and Roccagorga, reached Anzio, 29 May, and pursued the enemy into Rome, 4 June, after a stiff engagement on the outskirts of the city. An element of the 88th is credited with being first to enter the Eternal City. After continuing across the Tiber to Bassanelio the 88th retired for rest and training, 11 June. The Division went into defensive positions near Pomerance, 5 July, and launched an attack toward Volterra on the 8th, taking the town the next day. Laiatico fell on the 11th, Villamagna on the 13th, and the Arno River was crossed on the 20th although the enemy resisted bitterly. It was necessary for the Allies to go through all of Italy, from the southern regions, going north, to defeat the German and Italian Axis armies and clear the country of continual danger to its citizens. The 88th found the mountain terrain of the Apennine Mountains getting more difficult. The autumn rains were making it worse. The German and Italian armies were fiercely defending their positions, but gradually losing. What must have been going through young Joseph's head during the invasion? He was part of the greatest military force ever assembled, in the process of liberating his father's homeland from tyranny and oppression.
After a period of rest and training, the Division opened its assault on the Gothic Line, 21 September 1944, and advanced rapidly along the Firenzuola Imola Road, taking Mount Battaglia on the 28th. The enemy counterattacked savagely and heavy fighting continued on the line toward the Po Valley. Although they were through the Gothic Line, the 5th Army—just like the 8th Army before them—found the terrain beyond, and its defenders, even more difficult.
Between 25 September and 3 October, U.S. 88th Division had fought its way to a standstill on the route to Imola, suffering 2,105 American men killed and wounded — roughly the same as the whole of the rest of II Corps during the actual breaching of the Gothic Line.
Joseph was among those who lost their lives here. He died on September 23, 1944. Young Joseph received the Purple Heart Medal, among others, posthumously, on December 25, 1944. He was buried at the Florence American Cemetery, outside Florence, Italy, along with 4,397 other American soldiers
There is no greater loss than that of your own child. Calogero and Isabel were heartbroken over the news of Joseph's death. By the time they were notified, all of Italy was in the hands of the Allies. Joseph's parents knew he was part of the successful campaign of the Blue Devils' march across Northern Italy all the way to Austria. Calogero could not have been more proud and sad at the same time. Italy is free, but it was accomplished at the cost of losing his son.
May God forever watch over Joseph and his fellow heroes.
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