Anthony P. Busofsky

Anthony Paul Busofsky Sr. was born on June 3, 1916 and died on April 8,1990.  He was the son of Andrew and Anna Busofsky (Yurkosky).  He grew up on Railroad Street (now Kennedy Avenue) in East Vandergrift.  He graduated from Vandergrift High School in 1935.

After high school he joined his father working at Carnegie Illinois Steel Corporation in Vandergrift as a millwright.  As a result of the Social Security Act the spelling of his last name changed from Bushovsky to Busofsky.

Anthony enlisted in the Army on January 30, 1942 at Fort George Meade in Maryland.  After basic training he became a rifleman and a messenger.  He became a mail orderly and also handled money for pay day.  He was a member of the "Big Red 1" seeing action in the Normandy Invasion (D-Day) at Omaha Beach.  He also saw action in Northern France, Sicily, Tunisia, Rhineland, Central Europe, and Algeria-French Morocco.  

On November 20, 1944 he was wounded in the European Theater for which he received a Purple Heart.  He also received a Bronze Star for meritorious achievement against the enemy in the European Theater from April 1, 1944 to October 1, 1944.  Other medals earned include:  European Service Medal, African Service Medal, Middle Eastern Service Medal, and the Good Conduct Medal. 

Anthony was honorably discharged on June 17, 1945 from Fort Dix, New Jersey.  He went on to marry Helen Szost in 1947.  They had five children:  Elaine Busofsky (Smith), Anthony Busofsky Jr., Eileen Busofsky (Garee), and twins Leonard Busofsky and Edward Busofsky.  He lived the rest of his life in Vandergrift.

A special Thanks to Elaine Smith for contributing information for Anthony Busofsky.