Flag honors WWII veteran Antone 'Toi' Monteiro

June 02, 2013 12:00 AM

Monteiro was responsible for the dispatch and maintenance of a fleet of eight 2½-ton military trucks. He participated in the campaigns of Tunisia and Rome-Arno and was the recipient of the European-African-Middle Eastern Theatre Campaign Ribbon, the American Defense Service Medal and the Good Conduct Medal.NEW BEDFORD — During the month of June, the 489th flag to fly atop Old Glory Tower in the North End honors the memory of Antone J. "Toi" Monteiro, a U.S. Army staff sergeant assigned to the 3430th Quartermaster Truck Co. Monteiro served overseas in Africa and Italy from Nov. 2, 1942 to Aug. 28, 1945.

Monteiro was born in New Bedford and spent most of his life in Dartmouth. After dropping out of Dartmouth High School to enter the Civilian Conservation Corps., for a period of time, he enlisted in the U.S. Army.

Through the assistance of the Veteran's Office and the Dartmouth School Department, he was posthumously awarded a high school diploma from Dartmouth High School on June 11, 2006. He was employed as a carpenter for several area contractors and for the city of New Bedford as a housing rehabilitation specialist.

He was an active lifetime member of the Cape Verdean-American Veterans Assoc., the Cape Verdean-American Folkloric Dance Troupe, the Cape Verdean Retirees and the American Legion.

Monteiro was married to Corrine (Tolentino) Monteiro for 58 years. They had four children: Eugene A. Monteiro and his wife, Benita Rose Monteiro of North Dartmouth, Robert F. Monteiro and his wife, Bonita Allen Monteiro of Fairfield Conn., Jeannette A. Monteiro Leal and her husband, Brad Leal of South Dartmouth and a daughter-in-law, Bonita (Miranda) Monteiro Ward of Martha's Vineyard who had been married to the Monteiros' late son Anthony J. Monteiro. "Toi" Monteiro also had four brothers including Joseph J. Monteiro and his wife, Arkie of South Dartmouth. Three brothers and three sisters predeceased Antone; Manuel Monteiro of Sao Nicolau, Cape Verde, Peter J. Monteiro and Michael J. Monteiro; and three sisters: Antonia Ramos, Emily Ramos and Mary Monteiro.

He also had eight grandchildren: Mark Monteiro, Trisha Monteiro, Jason Monteiro, Nicole Pyne, Geno Monteiro, Sean Monteiro, Alycia Gabriel and Ashley Leal; and 11 great-grandchildren Jason Monteiro, John Jenkins, Christian Monteiro, Cameron Monteiro, Courtney Monteiro, Madison Pyne, A. J. Monteiro, Evan Monteiro, Skylar Monteiro, Isaiah Gabriel, and Josiah Gabriel.

The late Joseph Theodore, a World War II veteran and Purple Heart recipient began the practice of flying veterans' flags above the Old Glory Tower 44 years ago.

Linda Ferreira, a marketing representative at Ashley Ford in New Bedford, researches the life histories of area veterans. Paul Neary, general manager of the dealership raises the memorial flags on the veterans' behalf. Those who would like to honor a veteran by flying a flag at Old Glory Tower can contact Ferreira at (508) 996-5611 or atmarketing@ashleyfordsales.com

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