Joseph Fredrick Citro Jr. was born July 24, 1921 in Utica, NY to Giuseppe (Joseph) Citro (1875-1965) and Margherita "Margaret" DiNigro (1881-1955) His parents were both from Italy coming to the U.S. in February 1906. His parents were married in July 1905. His dad worked at Wittgs Ice Cream Co. The family lived on Belmont Ave. in Utica, NY. Joseph was youngest of their seven children which included Maria (1901-1971), Carmen (1906 - ), Patsy (1909-), Frank (1910-2002), Dominck (1914-2003) and Anthony (1915-2000).

Joseph Jr. registered for the draft on February 14, 1942 through Utica, NY. He was 5'-11" tall, weighed 190 pounds with black hair and brown eyes. He was working for B&H Transportation in Syracuse, NY at the time. Joseph was drafted into the service on March 25, 1943 with service number 32854240.

He reported being single, with dependents and having completed 4 years of high school. In September 1943 he is released from Army Specialized Training, Grinnell College, Grinnell, Iowa and sent to Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colorado. From there he was sent to Camp Rucker, Alabama and then overseas as a "replacement" in November 1944 to join the 101st Infantry Regiment already in action in France. “Replacements” were individual soldiers or groups of soldiers sent to units to fill vacancies caused by casualties, transfers, discharges, sickness, or other losses.

By December 10, the 101st Infantry Regiment had moved into Metz, France after the division's advance through Lorraine. The regiment was given the job of dealing with Fort Jeanne d'Arc, the last German fortification in the Metz fortress system still holding out. Pvt. Citro's was killed in action on December 13, 1944 in the fighting around Fort Jeanne d'Arc in the Metz, France fortress complex. He had been in combat less than a month, sadly this was not uncommon for replacements.

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

Dad's FAG - Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/208646264/joseph-citro: accessed 2 Oct 2026), memorial page for Joseph Citro (1875–30 Dec 1965), Find a Grave Memorial ID 208646264, citing Saint Agnes Cemetery, Utica, Oneida County, New York, USA; Maintained by PaPasgirl (contributor 48623246).

Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/159503859/joseph_f-citro: accessed 28 Sep 2026), memorial page for PVT Joseph F Citro Jr. (24 Jul 1921–13 Dec 1944), Find a Grave Memorial ID 159503859, citing Saint Agnes Cemetery, Utica, Oneida County, New York, USA; Maintained by Jeff Hall (contributor 47296194).

Mom's FAG - Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/208646355/margherita-citro: accessed 2 Oct 2026), memorial page for Margherita “Margaret” DiNigro Citro (1881–28 Nov 1955), Find a Grave Memorial ID 208646355, citing Saint Agnes Cemetery, Utica, Oneida County, New York, USA; Maintained by PaPasgirl (contributor 48623246).

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

National Archives at St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; Morning Reports for November 1944: Roll 559; Record Group 64: Records of the National Archives and Records Administration; NAID: 576368877.

The National Archives in Washington, DC; Washington, DC, USA; Passenger and Crew Lists of Vessels Arriving at New York, New York, 1897-1957; Microfilm Serial or NAID: T715; RG Title: Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, 1787-2004; RG: 85

National Archives at Washington DC; Washington DC, USA; Applications for Headstones For U.S. Military Veterans, 1925-1941; NAID: 596118; Record Group Number: 92; Record Group Title: Records of the Office of the Quartermaster General

Year: 1930; Census Place: Utica, Oneida, New York; Page: 15A; Enumeration District: 0132; FHL microfilm: 2341356

Year: 1940; Census Place: Utica, Oneida, New York; Roll: m-t0627-02862; Page: 5A; Enumeration District: 67-78

Supporting Documents