Pasquale "Patsy" Armond Caramadre was born October 23, 1915 in Utica, NY to Biagio Caramadre (1889-1934) and Virginia Ambroselli (1884-1934). His parents were both originally from Italy. His dad came to the U.S. in May 1907. His mom came to the U.S. in 1902 or 1903. They were married April 2, 1908 in Herkimer, NY. Patsy was the youngest of their four children which included brother Thomas (1909-1989), sister Philomena A "Mimi", and brother Gaetano. He attended Utica Free Academy and learned to be a carpenter. The family moved around in the Utica, NY area during Patsy's childhood. Patsy's mom and dad both died in 1934. His dad was killed in Syracuse, NY when a still he was near exploded. His mom died just weeks later from "grief" over his father's death.

He registered for the draft on October 16, 1940 in Utica, NY. He was 5'-8” tall and weighed 175 pounds with blue eyes and brown hair. Patsy entered the service on March 12, 1942 with one of the largest contingents of men every to be drafted frpm the Utica, NY area. His service number was 32253132. He did his training at Camp Polk, La. and Fort Benning, California before going overseas to England. In June 1944 his unit was likely stationed at Tidworth Barracks in England where they were preparing for the fighting to come. In August 1944 they moved to France, landing on the Normandy beaches August 10, 11, and 12, 1944. From there they quickly moved across France and by early September were near Metz.

Company A's morning reports place the unit on September 7, 1944 one mile east of Pierrevillers, France and on September 8 at Silvange, France, northwest of Metz. It is here on September 8, 1944 while Company A was operating in the Pierrevillers–Silvange area, German artillery subjected them to heavy shelling. Three members of Company A—including 2nd Lt. Robert J. Schaaf, Sgt. Alfred J. Backfish, and Pvt. John W. Weir—were killed. Pfc. Caramadre was among the seriously wounded. Pfc. Caramadre died just a few days later, on September 12, 1944 near Metz, France. He was buried in the U.S. Military Cemetery #1, Champigneul, France, Plot C, Row, 1, Grave 19. In June 1948, at the wishes of his family (his brother Thomas and sister Mimi), his remains were removed from the temporary cemetery in Champignaul, France and permanently interred in the Epinal U.S. Military Cemetery, Plot A, Row 11, Grave 64.

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

"2 More Area Men Dead; 3rd Missing, 1 Prisoner", Utica Observer-Dispatch, Utica, NY, October 1, 1944, pg. 8-A.

"4 Area Men Killed in Action; 5th Missing, 6th Captured", Utica Daily Press, Utica, NY, October 2, 1944, pg. 10.

Company A, 33rd Armored Engineer Battalion 8 September 1944 Pierrevillers to Silvange, France", 7th Armored Division Website accessed at https://www.7tharmddiv.org/33a-1944-09-08.htm on September 2, 2026.

"Grief Contributes To Cause of Death of Mrs. Caramadre", Utica Observer-Dispatch, Utica, NY, February 27, 1934, pg. 15

Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56371518/pasquale_armond-caramadre: accessed 30 Aug 2026), memorial page for PFC Pasquale Armond Caramadre (23 Oct 1915–11 Sep 1944), Find a Grave Memorial ID 56371518, citing Epinal American Cemetery and Memorial, Épinal, Département des Vosges, Lorraine, France; Maintained by Son of the 7th (contributor 47067117).

Individual Deceased Personnel File for Caramadre, Pasquale, A., 32253132, National Archives at St. Louis, MO. accessed at http://www.7tharmddiv.org/docrep/images/7AD/33%20AEB/IDPFs/CARAMADRE_PASQUALE_32253132_IDPF_Complete_204206.pdf on August 30, 2026.

Mom and Dad's FAG: Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/229892410/biagio-caramadre: accessed 2 Sep 2026), memorial page for Biagio Caramadre (Nov 1889–1934), Find a Grave Memorial ID 229892410, citing Calvary Cemetery, Utica, Oneida County, New York, USA; Maintained by PaPasgirl (contributor 48623246).

National Archives at College Park; 8601 College Park, MD, 20740-6001; Record Group 117: Records of the American Battle Monuments Commission; Series: Headstone Inscription and Interment Records for U.S. Military Cemeteries on Foreign Soil; NAID: 169014972

National Archives at College Park; 8601 College Park, MD, 20740-6001; Record Group 92: Records of the Office of the Quartermaster General; Series: General Correspondence Relating to Organizations; File Unit: 314.6 T/O (European) Weekly Burial Reports 107: 1944; Report No. 107: October 22, 1944.

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, 1915; Election District: 01; Assembly District: 01; City: Utica Ward 08; County: Oneida; Page: 57

New York State Archives; Albany, New York; State Population Census Schedules, 1925; Election District: 02; Assembly District: 01; City: Utica Ward 08; County: Oneida; Page: 17

"Utican, Burned as Still Exploded at Syracuse, Dies in Hospital There", The Utica Observer-Dispatch, February 14, 1934, pg. 12.

Year: 1910; Census Place: Utica Ward 8, Oneida, New York; Roll: T624_1052; Page: 23a; Enumeration District: 0125; FHL microfilm: 1375065

Year: 1920; Census Place: Utica Ward 8, Oneida, New York; Roll: T625_1245; Page: 13B; Enumeration District: 140

Supporting Documents