Angelo Durante
The following narrative was submitted by Angelo Durante’s grandson, Christian Durante.
My Grandfather like many men of his age, especially after the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, decided to enlist in the U.S. Army. In February 1942, He did just that along with his three other brothers. Grandpa Ângelo Durante had three brothers, Peter, Frank and Michael. Peter was exempted and didn't serve due to essential home-front employment. Micheal was too old to serve. Frank did serve and enlisted a few months after his brother, my grandfather, enlisted. Frank Durante ended up serving in North Africa and becoming a U.S. Army Sergeant.
My Grandpa Angelo Durante was inducted into the U.S. Army at Camp Upton in Long Island in February 1942. From there, He was shipped out to "Camp Croft" in Spartanburg, South Carolina for Infantry Training. From there, he was trained in rifle and machine gun marksmanship which earned him the U.S. Army Marksmanship Infantry Badge due to his expert targeting. His training also included how to spot enemy aircraft and shoot them down with machine guns. Grandfather Angelo Durante first big battle that he took part in was "Operation Husky" which was the Invasion of Sicily. He landed in Sicily with the 180th Infantry Division, Company B. He fought against both Italian and German Army Troops in Battle including the Battle of Anzio. During fierce fighting near Biscari, Sicily, Italy on July 17th, 1943, My Grandfather was shot in his right toe. He was transferred to a U.S. Army Hospital where he recovered and was returned to battle. He didn't get much reprieve because in October 1943, My Grandfather was wounded again in Battle.
In October 1943, U.S. Army Records show that his left leg was hit by enemy artillery shells where fragments tore into it. For the 2nd time within a year, he was sent to the hospital where he recovered and was sent back into battle. Only this time, they changed his army unit to the 3485th Ordnance Maintenance Company where he assigned as a clerk in his unit until the end of the war.
For being wounded in battle on two separate instances, he was awarded a Purple Heart medal with Oak Leaf Cluster. Additionally for bravery in action against the enemy in the Sicilian Campaign, The Bronze Star Medal was awarded.
Grandpa Angelo Durante returned the United States of America in the Summer of 1945. In September 1945, He was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army as a Technician 5th Grade in the 3485 Ordnance Company, U.S. 5th Army. His brother, Frank Durante, was also honorably discharged, in February 1946, as a U.S. Army Sergeant.
Like so many of generation, Grandpa Angelo Durante, didn't speak much about his wartime experiences. He did keep most of his WWII U.S. Army Paperwork along with his sister, Virginia Durante, keeping a scrapbook of training stateside before he shipped off to Europe.
Grandpa Angelo Durante married one year after the war in 1946 to my grandmother, Athena Durante. My Grandfather worked in the vending machine business and also was a vice president in the Italian Civil Rights League in Brooklyn. He had two kids, Janet and Gregory. I , Christian Durante, is the son Gregory and Grandson of Angelo Durante.
I proudly display a shadowbox of my Grandfather Angelo Durante WWII Medals and Military Decorations. Unfortunately, I couldn't serve in the U.S. Armed Forces. I did find a way around that though. I decided to serve my country as a Civilian Federal Government Employee in 2 agencies. My 1st post of duty was as a Nursing Timekeeper in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs from 2015-2018.
My 2nd post of duty was in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security as an Administrative Operations Specialist from 2018 to Present where I currently serve my country. I also volunteer for my community as a Auxiliarist in the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary.