Ernest Alberico was born August 6, 1922 in Utica, NY to Philip Alberico (1891-1958) and Annunziata Amico “Rose” (1893-1931). His mom and dad were from Italy immigrating to the United States in 1893. His parents were married in 1913. He had four sisters, Anna, Clara, Ida and Carmella and two brothers Joseph and Richard. He also had a stepbrother Peter DeCarciofolo. In 1930 the family was living on North Road in Paris, NY. His dad reported being a laborer in a cotton mill. His mom died when he was a young boy. By the time he registered for the draft in 1942 he lived on Lansing, St. in Utica, NY.

Army on December 8, 1942 and did his basic training at Fort Jackson, N.C. and from there went overseas in September 1943. His service number was 12173846 .

Pfc. Alberico saw his first action either on June 6, 1944 D-Day or D-Day +1. Since the 327th was broken up due to lack of aircraft, it landed over the first two days of the invasion. Which day Pfc. Alberico was in wasn't clear. When the 327th was fully ashore they marched to Carentan and on June 9, 1944 attacked over the Canal de Vire-et-Taute. Pfc Alberico is wounded in this fighting but recovers and is sent back to duty. The unit suffered high casualties but eventually succeeded in taking Carentan and afterwards were sent back to England for rest and refitting.

His family received his last letter during this break on September 9, 1944, postmarked from England. Next up for the 327th was the infamous Operation Market Garden. On September 18 and 19 more than 200 gliders dropped the 327th near the village of Son in Holland. What followed has been well documented. Suffice to say here, the 101st Airborne was held up by stiff German resistance and counter attacks. On September 22 the enemy attack the corridor between Uden and Veghel where the 327th was. Pfc Alberico is killed in this fighting on September 22 and buried in the Zon Eindhoven Cemetery, Holland in Plot A, Row 10, Grave 198. Later, in December 1948 as part of the government's body recovery program, and at the request of his father Philip, Pfc. Alberico's body is escorted home aboard the USAT Barney Kirschbaum. A solemn requiem high mass was held for him in the St. Mary of Mt. Carmel Church and he was buried in the family plot Calvary Cemetery, Utica, NY.

This story is part of the Stories Behind the Stars project. This is a national effort of volunteers to write the stories of all 421,000+ of the US WWII fallen on Together We Served and Fold3.

(Please see - http://www.storiesbehindthestars.org).

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 If you noticed anything erroneous in this profile or have additional information to contribute, please contact Jim Greenberg at jim.greenberg@oneonta.edu.

SBTSProject/New York/Oneida

Sources

“Army Vessel En Route With 12 Area War Dead” Utica Daily Press, Utica, NY, Dec. 2?, [illegible] 1948, pg. 2-A.

European Weekly Burial Reports 107:1944, October 22, 1944, National Archives, Records of the Office of the Quartermaster General, College Park, MD.

Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/124999023/ernest-alberico: accessed August 13, 2025), memorial page for PFC Ernest Alberico (6 Aug 1922–22 Sep 1944), Find a Grave Memorial ID 124999023, citing Calvary Cemetery, Utica, Oneida County, New York, USA; Maintained by Geanygal (contributor 48091759).

“Funeral Set Wednesday for Pfc. Alberico”, Utica Observer-Dispatch, Utica, NY, January 14, 19??, [illegible] pg. 12-A.

Individual Deceased Personnel File for Alberico, Ernest, 12173846, National Archives, St. Louis, MI.

National Archives at St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; Wwii Draft Registration Cards For New York State, 10/16/1940 - 03/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147

“Utica Glider Paratrooper Dies in Action”, Utica Daily Press, Utica, NY, Oct. 7, 1944, pg. 3

“Utican Dies in Action, Another on Maneuvers”, Utica Observer Dispatch, Utica, NY, Oct. 7, 1944, pg. ? [illegible]

Year: 1930; Census Place: Paris, Oneida, New York; Page: 7B; Enumeration District: 0038; FHL microfilm: 2341354

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