Americo P. Colaizzi

Pvt. Americo Colaizzi and his father stand outside their home on Apple St. in Pittsburgh, PA. He was on leave 25 Dec 1942.

NAME: Americo (George) P. Colaizzi

ASN: 13087898

PLACE OF BIRTH:

DATE OF BIRTH: 1921?

DATES OF SERVICE: 10 Jul 1942 -

UNIT ASSIGNED: 509th PIB

CAMPAIGNS: Algeria-French Morocco, Tunisia, Naples-Foggia, Anzio, Rome Arno

AWARDS: Combat Infantryman Badge, Parachutist Badge, EAME Campaign Medal with arrowhead device and four bronze star devices, World War II Victory Medal

SUMMARY OF SERVICE:

10 Jul 1942 - Enlisted at Pittsburgh, PA - NARA Enlistment Record

ARMY SERIAL NUMBER	13087898	13087898
NAME	COLAIZZI#AMERICO#P######	COLAIZZI#AMERICO#P######
RESIDENCE: STATE	32	PENNSYLVANIA
RESIDENCE: COUNTY	003	ALLEGHENY
PLACE OF ENLISTMENT	3298	PITTSBURGH PENNSYLVANIA
DATE OF ENLISTMENT DAY	10	10
DATE OF ENLISTMENT MONTH	07	07
DATE OF ENLISTMENT YEAR	42	42
GRADE: ALPHA DESIGNATION	PVT#	Private
GRADE: CODE	8	Private
BRANCH: ALPHA DESIGNATION	BI#	Branch Immaterial - Warrant Officers, USA
BRANCH: CODE	00	Branch Immaterial - Warrant Officers, USA
FIELD USE AS DESIRED	#	#
TERM OF ENLISTMENT	5	Enlistment for the duration of the War or other emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President or otherwise according to law
LONGEVITY	###	###
SOURCE OF ARMY PERSONNEL	0	Civil Life
NATIVITY	43	GEORGIA
YEAR OF BIRTH	21	21
RACE AND CITIZENSHIP	1	White, citizen
EDUCATION	4	4 years of high school
CIVILIAN OCCUPATION	134	Shipping and receiving clerks
MARITAL STATUS	6	Single, without dependents
COMPONENT OF THE ARMY	6	Army of the United States - includes the following: Voluntary enlistments effective December 8, 1941 and thereafter; One year enlistments of National Guardsman whose State enlistment expires while in the Federal Service; Officers appointed in the Army of the United States under Army Regulations 605-10
CARD NUMBER	#	#
BOX NUMBER	0124	0124
FILM REEL NUMBER	1.124	1.124

There were four brothers in the war. Mario, Albert, Rumalo and George. Mario was in the Air Corps in the pacific and the other three brothers were in Africa. The other three brothers ended up in the same hospital in Africa.

Went by the nickname George because he lived in Georgia for a time.

Married Ada from Naples, Italy who came to America as a War Bride.

George introduced Roland Leone to Anna from Naples, Italy who also came to America as a War Bride

Tech 5 Americo Colaizzi geared up to make a jump. Photo believed to be taken in Jul 1943 at Kairouan, Tunisia where the 509th PIR was bivouacked in an olive grove outside of town. Many items of interest are in this photo. 3"x5" American Flag on left shoulder worn by 509th in 1942 and 1943. Standard M1 Carbine, 509th PIR was not issued Paratrooper Carbines unitl much later, having left the US before they went into production. Finally, the white cotton hand stitched around the lower edge of the pockets to prevent seams ripping apart from heavy objects in pockets.

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