Frank Francis Bruzzese Jr. was born on April 30, 1921 in Utica, NY to Francesco P. "Frank" Bruzzese (1882-1964) and Filomena "Fannie" Paladino (1891-1979). His mom came to the United States in 1893 and was originally from Missanello, Italy. His dad came to the United States in 1900 and was originally from Reggio Calabria, Italy. His parents were married on August 17, 1912 in Utica, NY. His dad was owner of the Alpine Restaurant. Frank was the third of their nine children which included Vincent (1915-1985), Paul (1918-1970), Joseph (1923-1996), Maria (1925-1928), Luke (1926-1945), Philip (1929-1932), Mary Rose (1931-2001) and Philip (1936-2000). The family lived at 535 Albany St., Utica, NY. Frank graduated from the Brandegee School and attended both Utica Free Academy and Proctor High School.

Frank registered for the draft on February 14, 1942 in Utica, NY . He was 5'-6" tall, weighed 140 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes. He married Elizabeth T. "Bessie" Allen (1923-2014) on November 5, 1942 and they have two children together, Frank and Michael Thomas (1944-1978). He was working at the Dairylea Ice Cream Corporation before being drafted into the U.S. Army on November 28, 1942, through Utica, NY. and officially entered the service on December 5, 1942 with service number 32664460. He had completed three years of high school at the time and was not yet married. He was sent to Ft. Bragg, N.C. where he is promoted to Corporal (Tech5) in May 1944 and went overseas with the 100th Infantry Division in late September 1944.

On December 17, 1944 Frank's regiment was attacking enemy fortifications guarding Bitche, France when he was wounded with a "bullet in the back". He was sent to a hospital in England where he recovered, was awarded a Purple Heart and sent back to an anti-aircraft unit in Germany. (In March 1945 he was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge for his actions on December 14, 1944.) Shortly after returning to duty he suffered injuries in a motor vehicular accident in Bad Neustadt and died July 4, 1945 in a hospital in Bad Kissengen, Germany. In January 1949 his body was returned home during the government's body recovery program and laid to rest with full military honors in the Calvary Cemetery, Utica, NY. For a number of years his parents run a memorial to him in local newspapers on the anniversary of his death.

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).

Can you help us write these stories? Together We Served and Fold3/Find A Grave have smartphone apps that will allow people to visit any war memorial or cemetery and read these stories of WWII fallen.

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

"2nd Son Lost By Bruzzeses in Army Mishap", Utica Daily Press, Utica, NY, August 11, 1945, pg. 5

"4 Reported Wounded", Utica Daily Press, Utica, NY, February 23, 1945, pg. 12

"Burning Claims Two Women and Child as Victims", Daily Sentinel, Rome, NY, August 6, 1928, pg. 13.

"Cpl. Bruzzese Killed In Reich Accident", Utica Daily Press, Utica, NY, July 23, 1945, pg. illegible.

Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/264809505/frank_f-bruzzese: accessed June 6, 2026), memorial page for Frank F. Bruzzese Jr. (1921–1945), Find a Grave Memorial ID 264809505, citing Calvary Cemetery, Utica, Oneida County, New York, USA; Maintained by PaPasgirl (contributor 48623246).

Frank Bruzzese Obituary, Daily Press, Utica, NY, July 23, 1964, pg. 36.

"How the 100th Infantry Division Captured Bitche", accessed at https://garahanhistory.com/7-how-the-100th-infantry-division-captured-bitche/ on June 12, 2026.

"Keeping Step With Service Folk", Utica Daily Press, Utica, NY, date and page illegible, accessed at Fultonhistory.com on June 7, 2026 with search term "Bruzzese".

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

New York State Archives; Albany, New York; State Population Census Schedules, 1925; Election District: 01; Assembly District: 01; City: Utica Ward 08; County: Oneida; Page: 90

"Pfc. Bruzzese Promoted" Utica Daily Press, Utica, NY, May 11, 1944, pg. 6.

"Soldier's Body Due on Tuesday", Utica Observer-Dispatch, January 8, 1949, pg. illegible.

Year: 1930; Census Place: Utica, Oneida, New York; Page: 4A; Enumeration District: 0101; FHL microfilm: 2341356

Supporting Documents